§ SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTEThe House is aware that the Land Law (Ireland) Bill is to be introduced on Thursday. May I ask what other Business will then be taken, and what Business it is proposed to take on Friday morning? Is the Bankruptcy Bill to be brought forward on Friday, and is it intended to have an Evening Sitting on Friday?
MR. GLADSTONEOn Thursday the Land Law (Ireland) Bill will be brought on, as is well known, and in case, as is quite possible, the discussion upon it does not occupy the whole evening—indeed, I rather conjecture that Gentlemen would wish to see the Bill in print before entering on its discussion—there will 774 be time available for my right hon. Friend the President of the Local Government Board to propose the second reading of his Bill (the Rivers Conservancy Bill). As to Friday, a tentative answer was given by the President of the Board of Trade to the Question put to him with a view to gather the general inclination of the House. Supposing the general inclination of the House should be to have a Morning Sitting on Friday, then the proposal would be to bring in the Bankruptcy Bill to-morrow or on Thursday evening, taking the usual stage without discussion, and then to read the Bill a second time on Friday. [Murmurs.] I beg pardon, I did not intend to pledge the House to the principle of the Bill; but the discussion on the second reading might be begun on Friday, and the debate could be adjourned. Of course, a Morning Sitting on Friday would also entail an Evening Sitting; but that would be at the discretion of the House.