§ MR. LABOUCHERE (Northampton)asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether it was absolutely necessary they should all be brought down here to-morrow simply to move the adjournment of the House; and whether some convenient arrangement might not be made at the close of to-day's proceedings to move the adjournment over the holidays?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. W. H. SMITH) (Strand, Westminster), said, he was in the hands of the House on a question of that character. It had been usual to meet on the day of the adjournment for the purpose of adjourning the House; but if the House thought proper the adjournment 903 should be moved at the close of this evening, he should be exceedingly glad to agree to it.
§ Subsequently,
§ MR. T. M. HEALY (Longford, N.)asked, at what hour the Government would consent to report Progress with the Criminal Law Amendment (Ireland) Bill? If the House was to adjourn that night, it would be impossible to discuss important Motions and Orders which stood upon the Paper, unless the debate in Committee on the Criminal Law Amendment (Ireland) Bill were adjourned at a reasonably early hour.
§ MR. W. H. SMITHsaid, that he could not enter into an engagement to adjourn at any particular hour. They ought, he thought, to make considerable progress with the Criminal Law Amendment (Ireland) Bill that evening. It was not the desire of the Government to take any other contentious matter after the first Order of the Day. If the second clause were passed to-night he would be exceedingly glad to move the adjournment of the House. He wished to point out that he acceded to the demand of the senior Member for Northampton (Mr. Labouchere) in the belief that it was in harmony with the views of hon. Members opposite. The suggestion did not come from the Government.