§ SIR EARDLEY WILMOTasked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether, 748 considering the great labour bestowed by the Grand Committee on Law upon the Criminal Appeal Bill, he will give Saturday next for the Consideration of the Report?
§ SIR R. ASSHETON CROSSasked whether the right hon. Gentleman seriously thought that the Bill referred to could be properly discussed at that period of the Session in the absence of the Lord Chief Justice and other Law Officers?
MR. GLADSTONEThe Question of the right hon. Gentleman (Sir R. Assheton Cross) really amounts to an inquiry whether the Government intend to submit the Criminal Appeal Bill to the judgment of the House. We consider it our duty to do so. In answer to the hon. Baronet, I have to state that I cannot absolutely foresee the time when we shall be able to bring it on. With reference to the remaining Business, what we propose to do is this. There remains very little to be done with the Scotch Local Government Bill; and I presume we may, therefore, finish it tonight after Supply. To-morrow, at 2 o'clock, we propose to take Committee on the Tramways (Ireland) Bill, and afterwards the Report of the Scotch Local Government Bill and the Report of the Parliamentary Registration (Ireland) Bill. If Supply is not finished tonight we propose to proceed with it tomorrow at the Evening Sitting; and I hope we may anticipate, from the kindness shown by hon. Members last week, that those who have Motions anterior to Supply will allow us to go at once into Committee. On Saturday we will take Supply, and afterwards the final stages of other Bills not likely to lead to debate; and I hope afterwards to ask the judgment of the House on the Court of Criminal Appeal Bill. On Monday, if we have the opportunity, my hon. Friend the Secretary of State will bring in the Indian Budget, and on Tuesday it is proposed to consider the Lords' Amendments on the Agricultural Holdings (England) Bill, as I presume it will be returned from the other House by that time, and we shall likewise take the Medical Act Amendment Bill.
§ MR. GIBSONsaid, he hoped it was not intended to sit on Saturday to a late hour.
MR. GLADSTONEsaid, it was not. He assumed that the Business to be 749 proceeded with on Saturday at the beginning would not take much time.
§ MR. DILLWYNasked whether, considering the strong opposition to the Crown Lands Bill, it would be proceeded with?
§ MR. EDWARD CLARKEbegged to repeat his Question, whether it was intended to proceed with the Contempts of Court Bill.
MR. GLADSTONEsaid, he was under the impression that there was a disposition on the part of the House to accept that Bill. If so, it would certainly be proceeded with.
§ MR. ARTHUR O'CONNORsaid, if it was intended to proceed with Government Business at 9 o'clock to-morrow, he should be wanting in frankness if he did not state that it was his intention, unless he saw good reason to the contrary, to bring forward the case of the Barrow drainage on that occasion.
§ SIR WALTER B. BARTTELOTsaid, he would remind the Prime Minister that both he and the noble Lord the Secretary of State for War had promised that the Army Estimates would be brought on at a reasonable hour. It would be impossible to discuss those Estimates adequately at 2 or 3 o'clock in the morning. He trusted, therefore, that as there were some Votes on which he wished to make a few remarks, the right hon. Gentleman would remember the pledge that had been given on behalf of the Government.
§ COLONEL ALEXANDERsaid, the Medical Vote of the Army had been postponed on more than one occasion on the distinct ground that it contained contentious matter, and in order that it might be discussed fully.
MR. GLADSTONEsaid, the only undertaking he could give at this stage of the Session was that such Votes as had been mentioned would not be taken at the extremely late hour alluded to by the hon. and gallant Baronet opposite (Sir Walter B. Barttelot).
§ SIR JOHN HAYsaid, that Vote 12 in the Navy Estimates involved the consideration of a very contentious subject, and he hoped it would be brought on at an hour when it could be fully debated.
MR. GLADSTONEsaid, he could only repeat what he had said respecting the 750 Army Votes. He could not give any information at present as to the time at which the Navy Estimates would be taken.
§ MR. O'KELLYasked, whether any Business would be taken on Saturday after the Criminal Appeal Bill?
§ MR. CALLANasked, whether it was proposed to proceed any further with the Stolen Goods Bill and the Medical Act Amendment Bill?
§ MR. CALLANWhen?
§ [No answer was given.]
§ SIR LYON PLAYFAIRasked, whether it would be possible to take the Medical Act Amendment Bill at an early date, as there were numerous deputations awaiting it in London from all parts of the Kingdom?
MR. GLADSTONEsaid, that he had made the best arrangement according to the time at his disposal, and could not possibly name an earlier day for its consideration.
§ SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTEOf course, the right hon. Gentleman, as usual, after the disposal of the Government Business on Saturday, will move the adjournment.
§ MR. WARTONinquired, whether it was proposed to proceed any further with the Summary Jurisdiction Bill this Session? It involved the consideration of 155 different subjects.
§ MR. HIBBERTreplied, that despite its length the Bill was very formal in character, had been considered for the last two or three years; there was no opposition to it, and he saw no reason why it should not be proceeded with.