§ MR. H. H. FOWLERasked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether (having regard to the fact that during the last fortnight the House has been counted 1117 out on three nights appropriated to Private Members) the time has arrived when the Committee on the Irish Land Bill should be proceeded with from day to day in priority of all other business?
§ MR. HEALYwished, before the right hon. Gentleman answered that Question, to know whether he had not assented to setting aside the Irish Land Bill tomorrow, in order to proceed with the discussion on the re-organization of the Army?
MR. GLADSTONEIt is quite true, Sir, that we have given way as regards the Land Bill to the discussion on Army re-organization, in consequence of finding, after every effort to make other arrangements, that it was the only way in which an unconditional pledge we had given early in the Session could be redeemed—a pledge, too, by which we have already received considerable advantage in obtaining a Vote in connection with the indispensable arrangements of the Public Service. With regard to the Question of my hon. Friend the Member for Wolverhampton (Mr. H. H. Fowler), in the course of a day or two I hope to consult my Colleagues on the subject, and we shall certainly review the progress that has been made with the Land Bill, and endeavour to estimate what are the prospects for the future.