§ SIR JOSEPH PEASEasked the Prime Minister, Whether he thought that at this time of the Session, and in the present state of Public Business, it was expedient to discuss the proposed alterations of the Standing Orders at the time of Private Business on Tuesday, the 1st of August?
MR. GLADSTONE, in reply, said, the authorities of the House were better judges than himself of the time when an important change of this kind might, with advantage, be taken into consideration; but he saw little prospect of their getting into Supply for effective purposes much before Tuesday, the 1st of August. He thought the House would justly be most unwilling, except for some very good public purpose, to interrupt the course of Supply when they had entered into it. He was not sanguine enough to suppose that even on so late a date as the 8th of August they would be in a condition to spare time for considering the proposed alteration of the Standing Order. That was all the answer he could give on that point. It was with very great regret that he had to make a further statement in anticipation of a Question of which Notice had been given from the other side. Reluctant as he was to admit the total failure of the Session for legislative work, he did not think he could any longer cherish an expectation of being able to proceed effectually with the Parliamentary Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Practices) Bill. It was with extreme regret that he acknowledged that, considering the very active opposition directed against the Bill from certain quarters, they were not able to proceed with it without imposing upon the House sacrifices for which they were scarcely prepared to call.
§ MR. MARRIOTTasked whether, after the statement of the Prime Minister with regard to the Parliamentary Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Practices) Bill, it was the intention of the Government to go on with the Police Superannuation Bill?
§ SIR WILLIAM HARCOURTsaid, he did not see any connection between the Parliamentary Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Practices) Bill and the Police Superannuation Bill.
§ MR. T. P. O'CONNORasked whether it was the intention of the Government to move that the Order for the Parliamentary Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Practices) Bill be discharged, or whether they could not continue the Bill to the Autumn Session? He asked the Question particularly for the purpose of eliciting from the Government whether there was any truth in what he hoped was a false rumour, that the Government had abandoned their intention of holding an Autumn Session.
MR. GLADSTONEI am afraid that it would be contrary to the distinct pledge given to the House if we were to say, however much we may wish it, that we should at the Autumn Sitting propose to go on with the Corrupt Practices Bill. The hon. Member is quite right in supposing that there is no truth whatever in the rumour—if he has hoard the rumour, which I have not—that we have had any intention at any time of abandoning the plan of having an Autumn Sitting.