HC Deb 20 July 1883 vol 282 cc94-5
SIR MICHAEL HICKS - BEACH

asked, Whether it was intended to proceed with the Bill at the Evening Sitting?

MR. GLADSTONE

, in reply, said, that the Government had good hopes of being able to proceed with it; but they were not entirely masters of the situa- tion. It would entirely depend upon the hour at which it might be reached. Unless it was reached by 11 o'clock, it would not be proceeded with.

SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTE

said, he thought there ought to be a definite understanding as to whether or not the Bill would be taken at the Evening Sitting, as it was rather unreasonable that hon. Gentlemen should be kept in doubt upon the subject till so late an hour.

MR. GLADSTONE

said, it would, to some extent, depend upon hon. Gentlemen who had Motions on the Paper for that evening. He had done the very best be could in the matter, and believed the feeling of the House was generally in favour of proceeding with the Bill, and that it would not be satisfactory to waste a night.

MR. JAMES HOWARD

said, he thought that great dissatisfaction would be felt if the Bill were proceeded with to-night.

SIR MICHAEL HICKS - BEACH

said, he would point out that many hon. Gentlemen had gone away under the impression that the discussion would not be renewed till Monday.

MR. CHAPLIN

said, he would ask the Government not to place the Order on the Paper for the Evening Sitting.

The House suspended its Sitting at Seven of the clock.

The House resumed its Sitting at Nine of the clock.