HC Deb 07 April 1884 vol 286 cc1813-5
MR. GLADSTONE

said, he would ask leave to make a statement with respect to the Easter Recess. The House was aware that the Government had appro- priated the Sitting to-morrow morning for the purpose of introducing the London Government Bill. It would be impossible, under those circumstances, to undertake at that time to move the Adjournment of the House for the Recess. There were two other courses which might be taken, one of which was to put down the Motion of Adjournment for the Evening Sitting. The other was a course which he did not suppose the House would be ready to entertain—namely, to meet on Wednesday for the purpose of dealing with the Motion. What had been done, therefore, was that the Government put down the Notice for Adjournment at the Evening Sitting on Tuesday. He observed that there were three Motions on the Paper for that evening. One of these had reference to the disestablishment of the Church of England in Wales. He hoped that, with regard to that Motion, the hon. Member for Swansea (Mr. Dillwyn) would, under the circumstances, courteously give way. The hon. and learned Gentleman in whose name the second Motion stood (Mr. Serjeant Simon) was, unfortunately, owing to the state of his health, precluded from making that Motion. With regard to the Motion of the hon. Member for Middlesex (Mr. Coope), he (Mr. Gladstone) would admit that the question with respect to the evening opening of our national collections was one of importance, and well deserving discussion in that House. Still, he would confidently venture to make an appeal to the hon. Member to be so good as to give way, in order to enable the Motion for the Adjournment of the House to take precedence of the other Motions.

MR. COOPE

said, he had endeavoured several times to obtain an opportunity of bringing his Resolution before the House. After the appeal of the Prime Minister, however, and considering the convenience of the House, as well as trusting to find another occasion to bring forward the Motion after the Recess, he was quite willing to yield.

MR. DILLWYN

said, that if he thought he could bring forward his Motion with any chance of success he would do so; but as he could not, he would trust to the chance of the ballot to secure another evening.

SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTE

said, he thought the House would be obliged to the hon. Members for their courtesy, and especially to the hon. Member for Middlesex, who had the first place on the Paper. He would ask the Prime Minister to state how long the holidays would continue?

MR. GLADSTONE

Until Monday week.

MR. PARNELL,

as a point of Order, asked the Speaker, Whether the New Rules would preclude, on the Motion for Adjournment, the discussions which formerly took place, or whether they would be limited to the immediate Question?

MR. SPEAKER

There will be no change made in that respect by the New Rules.