§ MR. BOURKEasked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether, considering the prospect of advancing the Bills mentioned in Her Majesty's Speech has now improved, he will propose that the Whitsuntide Holidays should extend over the Derby Day, thus giving to the House three more days holiday; and, whether he would consider whether an arrangement might not be made by which the Government might take Friday the 25th as a Government night in compensation for Monday the 21st, which would be the only day they would lose by meeting the wish of the House for a longer adjournment?
MR. GLADSTONESir, in regard to this Question, my wishes are in one direction, and my necessities, I am sorry to say, are in another. I am afraid it would not be compatible with the duty of the Government to advise an extension of the Vacation. It is possible that some hon. Members of the House may find means of extending it for themselves; but I am afraid we cannot assist them further. As to the latter part of the Question, I quite appreciate the object with which it is put, and I acknow- 235 ledge its equity. But I think, if the right hon. Gentleman has observed what has lately taken place, he will find that any proposal on our part to alter the Standing Order as to the course of Business on Fridays would probably be made the subject of a not very short and not agreeable discussion; and I am bound to say I do not think it would be a desirable course to raise it.