§ MR. ANDERSONasked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether, considering all the time that has been already lost for want of his proposed Rule 2 (as to Adjournment Motions at Question Time) and Rule 12 (as to Supply on Mondays), he will postpone the consideration of the Cloture and the others, and bring forward these two for more immediate discussion?
MR. GLADSTONEHer Majesty's Government, when they were preparing the Resolutions, which have since been laid upon the Table and partially entertained by the House, considered very carefully the question whether they should begin by submitting to the House the Resolution relating to the power to close the debate, and they made up 892 their minds that they would best consult the convenience of the House by giving that Resolution the first place. I will not now enter into the reasons for that determination; but I do not think that we should depart from it even if the discussion had not been commenced; but as it has been commenced, I think that my hon. Friend will see that it would be highly inconvenient to change it at the present time, although I believe that what is called the Monday Rule is one of the most important in reference to the conduct of Public Business.