§ MR. JAMES HOWARDasked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether his attention has been drawn to recent expressions of opinion by Scotch and English agriculturists as to the pressing necessity of legislative remedial measures for the farming interest; and, whether, considering the small portion of the present or past Sessions which has been devoted to the discussion of English and Scotch agricultural topics, he will, in the event of the amendments to the Irish Bills now before the House not having been disposed of before Wednesday next, mate arrangements for the Agricultural Tenants' Compensation Bill being taken on that day; and, if not on that day, whether the Government will give a future day for the purpose of discussing this and other Bills before the House of a like character?
§ MR. CHAPLINsaid, he wished to ask another Question before the right hon. Gentleman replied. He presumed that the Question of the hon. Member for Bedfordshire (Mr. J. Howard) related to the Bill which stood in his (Mr. Chaplin's) name, and was the First Order for Wednesday next. He was very grateful to the hon. Member for the interest he took in that Bill, more particularly as he did all he could to prevent its introduction. Important as the question was, he (Mr. Chaplin) should certainly not think of asking the Prime Minister, in the present position of public affairs—["Order!"]—
§ MR. JAMES HOWARDWill the hon. Member permit me?—["Order !"]
§ MR. CHAPLIN, continuing, said that, having regard to the gravity of the situation in Ireland, he should not think of asking the Prime Minister to interpose before Irish Business was concluded. What he wished to ask the Prime Minister was, when the stages of the Prevention of Crime Bill were further advanced, whether the Government would Consider this question with a view to 492 saying whether they would be able to give a favourable reply, and whether they would be able to give some facilities for the discussion of a question of so much importance before the Session was concluded?
MR. GLADSTONE, in reply, said, he did not see that the question of the hon. Member differed from that put on the Paper by the hon. Member for Bedfordshire; but he must give an answer on the subject which he was very unwilling to give. There was no doubt whatever as to the pressing necessity of legislation in the direction indicated by the Bill of the hon. Member (Mr. Chaplin). He admitted that in the strongest terms; but he was sorry to say he could give no pledge whatever in regard to any particular measure at the present moment other than those measures which were before the House, nor, indeed, could he give a pledge with regard to the whole of those measures; and until the House had been pleased to make large modifications in its methods of transacting Business, he felt that both this great and important subject, and many other subjects of possibly equal importance— at any rate of great importance—must remain in a position generally unsatisfactory to the country—a condition which it would be the object and desire of the Government to bring as soon as possible to a close.
§ MR. CHAPLINgave Notice that in consequence of the reply of the right hon. Gentleman, he would, after Committee on the Prevention of Crime Bill had concluded, repeat the Question.