MR. JOSEPH COWENasked the First Lord of the Treasury, If he will afford facilities, before the Session ends, for the discussion of a Motion standing on the Order Book in the name of the 229 honourable Member for Sligo, arising out of the Report and Proceedings of the Select Committee on Privilege in the case of Mr. E. D. Gray?
MR. GLADSTONE, in reply, said, he saw no call upon them to make any special arrangements, and no special advantage in raising this question at the present moment. He did not recognize in it any character of urgency which would make it necessary to be discussed at the present time, as compared with a period at the commencement of the next Session, when hon. Gentlemen would have their own opportunities in the regular course of Business. He did not wish to appear discourteous to the hon. Members opposite; but he would say that it was a very difficult matter for him to interfere with this proceeding of individual Members; and if he was asked in one instance to use influence to induce a particular Member to take a particular course, he felt it would be introducing an awkward precedent, because he did not feel that he was entitled to interfere in that way. He was by no means sure that discussion of this subject was desirable; because, what he wished to signify was that it was the duty of the Government to see to the proper execution of the law, and he did not at all feel that their taking this step at the present time would tend to promote that object.