§ MR. HICKSasked whether or not this Bill would be brought forward on Thursday? He trusted the matter would be placed beyond doubt, because hon. Members had been brought down, day after day, and remained sitting on those Benches night after night, in the vain expectation that the Bill would be discussed. The House was informed, at Question time, that it would, in all probability, be brought forward in the course of the evening; and it was not until after 12 that the announcement was made that the Bill would not be taken. He submitted that it was a great hardship upon independent Members that that practice should go on so long, without any opportunity being afforded them of discussing the provisions of the Bill.
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. CHILDERS)said, no one was more anxious than himself to proceed with the Bill; but he was unable to resist the appeals made to him not to take it at a very late hour. He believed he was acting in accordance with the general wish of the House in proposing to take the Bill next Thursday.
§ MR. W. H. SMITHsaid, the observations of his hon. Friend the Member for Cambridgeshire (Mr. Hicks) were justified by the facts of the case. Certainly, a great number of hon. Members had come down daily who were interested in the provisions of the Bill; and it was not until past 12 o'clock that they learned that it would not come on. He trusted that the same reasons as those just stated by the Chancellor of the Exchequer would not operate on Thursday next, and that the Bill would be taken on that day, if possible, at an early hour.
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. CHILDERS)said, he would take the Bill on Thursday, at as late an hour as the House would permit. He did not, however, wish it to be understood that he meant by that 2 o'clock, for he had already explained to those who had made communications to him upon this subject that, in view of the importance of the Bill, it would not be 317 respectful to the House to take it at an unduly late hour.