§ MR. ESSLEMONT (Aberdeen, E.)asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether, in consideration of the shortness of the Recess at Easter, the Government will inform the House as to the date and probable duration of the adjournment at Whitsuntide?
§ THE FIRST LORD (Mr. W. H. SMITH) (Strand, Westminster)Sir, the Government have felt some hesitation in deciding on the proposals to be made to the House as to a Whitsuntide Recess, as, although the holiday at Easter was a very short one, it must be admitted that the condition of Public Business, taken alone, would not warrant the Government in proposing a long adjournment next week; but having regard to the fact that the House has been sitting almost without a break for nearly four months, and the physical exhaustion which incessant and prolonged attendance has produced, not only in Members, but in the officers of the House, we have come to the conclusion that it will probably conduce to 65 the better conduct of Business if we adjourn on Tuesday afternoon, the 24th, after a Morning Sitting, until Monday, the 6th of June; and I may venture to express the confident hope that before the adjournment substantial progress will be made with the urgent Business which is, or will be brought, under the consideration of the House.
§ MR. JOHN MORLEY (Newcastle-on-Tyne)asked whether the Criminal Law Amendment (Ireland) Bill would be taken next week?
§ MR. W. H. SMITHI prefer to mention that somewhat later.