MR. GORSTasked the Prime Minister, Whether he would to-morrow make some statement in reference to the Transvaal, having formally stated that as soon as the guns taken at Potchefstroom were restored facilities would be given for the bringing on of the debate in reference to the Transvaal?
MR. GLADSTONESir, I never made any statement of the kind. What I said was that until the communications as to what had taken place were concluded no useful discussion could take place. Perhaps, however, it may be desirable that I should say a word as to the course of Public Business. We have got, as the House is aware, into a situation of competition between two great questions—the Irish Land Bill, which is before us especially on this occasion, and Supply, which has fallen into a backward state, and as to which justifiable anxiety prevails. I was extremely anxious that the debate on the second reading of the Land Bill should take place immediately after the Easter Recess. I do not know that we gained a great deal by commencing it on that day. I am given to understand that it would be a considerable convenience to Irish Members that Supply should be taken at the two Sittings next week, instead of the Land Bill; and, considering that we can hardly expect to dispose of the Committee on the Land Bill before the House would insist on our taking Supply, I think we should act wisely if we took Supply on Thursday and Friday next week, and then gave our constant attention to the Land Bill. Unless I have reason to suppose that I am mistaken in thinking that it meets with general acceptance, we shall consider that that is the arrangement. To-morrow, at 2 clock, we shall be able to see positively 1886 whether that is agreeable to the wish of the House generally.