§ MR. MASON (Lanark, Mid)asked, Whether the First Lord of the Trea- 1594 sury could now state when the Coal Mines, &c, Regulation Bill would be proceeded with, and at what hour?
§ THE FIRST LORD (Mr. W. H. SMITH) (Strand, Westminster), in reply, said, he was not able to say positively; but he hoped the Bill would be taken on Monday, the 20th, about 10 o'clock in the evening, or as near that hour as possible, consistent with the Business that might precede it.
§ MR. F. S. POWELL (Wigan)inquired, whether the right hon. Gentleman intended only to take the first stage of the Bill?
§ MR. W. H. SMITHsaid, he hoped it would be possible to take the Committee on that day. He presumed it would be the desire of the House to go through with the Committee if possible.
§ MR. BURT (Morpeth)said, that he understood that a discussion was to take place on the Motion that the Speaker leave the Chair, and that the House should not go into Committee till the next occasion.
§ MR. W. H. SMITHunderstood that there was a strong wish on the part of hon. Members to proceed with the measure itself, and not only to have a discussion upon it. Of course, it was for the House to say, when in Committee, whether they were to make progress with the measure or not.