§ LORD RICHARD GROSVENOR moved that the House, at its rising on Saturday, should adjourn until Thursday, the 19th of February.
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the House, at its rising on Saturday next, do adjourn till Thursday 19th February."—(Lord Richard Grosvenor.)
§ MR. SEXTONasked if this arrangement included the sitting of the House that day—Friday?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONreplied in the negative. The Govern- 797 ment intended to propose, after the House had decided to adjourn from Saturday until the 19th of February, that it should not meet again until Saturday.
§ MR. SEXTONwould ask Mr. Speaker whether he had not already announced that there would be a Sitting on Friday for the National School Teachers (Ireland) Bill; and if it was not contrary to the practice of the House to endeavour by a side-wind to defeat the ordinary Rules of the House?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONsaid, the announcement made by his right hon. Friend the Prime Minister in the early part of the Sitting was that if the second reading of the Parliamentary Elections, Redistribution, Bill were passed, the object of the present Sitting of Parliament would be practically attained, and a Motion would be made for the adjournment until Saturday. The fact referred to by the hon. Member that an Order of the Day had been fixed for Friday was not the act of the Government.
§ MR. CALLANremarked that it was the act of the House.
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONsaid, that hon. Members must know that it was always left to the Government to fix the day on which the House should meet.
§ MR. SEXTON,as a point of Order, wished to ask whether, when the Speaker publicly notified the day on which a particular Bill should be taken, it was competent for the Government to set aside that Order of the House?
§ MR. SPEAKERSo far as the Order of the House is concerned, it is understood that the Bill referred to will be put down upon the Paper for the next sitting day.
§ MR. SEXTONWhich has already been fixed for this day.
§ MR. SPEAKERThe fixing of a Bill for this day does not prevent the House from exercising the usual pleasure of the House.
§ MR. SEXTONUnder the circumstances, I shall have to oppose the adjournment of the House until Saturday.
§ Question put, and agreed to.