§ MR. HENRY H. FOWLER (Wolverhampton, E.)said, that the Solicitors' Bill, which occupied the eighth place on the Order Paper, had apparently been read a second time that morning by mistake. He had waited in the House until 3 A.M., and had then left under the impression that the second reading would not be taken. In the circumstances, he hoped that the Committee stage would not be proceeded with that evening.
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. W. H. SMITH) (Strand, Westminster)The right hon. Gentleman is quite right. The second reading of the Bill was taken by inadvertence, the Attorney General not being aware of the arrangement that had been come to. The Bill will not be proceeded with 338 further during this Sitting. I may take this opportunity of saying that the Adjournment will be moved to-night after the 20th or last Government Order on the Paper (Report of the East India Revenue Accounts). The view of the Government is that the House will not desire to proceed with private Members' Bills. The arrangement will be as follows:—We shall proceed down to No. 7 (Patents, Designs, and Trades Marks Bill), and then take the Municipal Funds (Ireland) Bill, the Local Bankruptcy (Ireland) Bill, Lloyd's (Signal Stations) Bill, the Divisional Magistrates (Ireland) Bill, and the East India Revenue Accounts. I may state that I propose, at the Sitting of the House to-morrow, and if there is no other Business to be taken coming down to us from "another place," to move—"That the House, at its rising on Monday"—assuming that the Commission is fixed for Monday for the Royal Assent to Bills which have been passed—"do adjourn to Tuesday, the 6th November."
§ MR. HENRY H. FOWLERThe other Orders will not be proceeded with?
§ MR. W. H. SMITHThey will not.
§ MR. LAWSON (St. Pancras, W.)asked, whether the right hon. Gentleman held out any hopes that facilities would be given later on in the Session for the consideration of the Lords' Amendments to the Libel Law (Amendment) Bill?
§ MR. W. H. SMITHsaid, he was hardly in a position to say that facilities would be afforded. Certainly he would be glad to give all the assistance in his power to the consideration of the Lords' Amendments on that Bill, for he thought it would be a great misfortune were all the labour expended upon it to be thrown away. The House was aware that the Government must be careful about making promises in favour of one Bill of a private Member over that of another.
§ SIR GEORGE CAMPBELL (Kirkcaldy, &c.)asked what Business would be taken to-morrow?
§ MR. W. H. SMITHWe must transact such Business to-morrow as may appear on the Paper. If we get over the Business on the Paper to-day, we must take such other measures as require consideration.
§ THE LORD MAYOR OF DUBLIN (Mr SEXTON) (Belfast, W.)asked, if the Wednesday Rule would apply to the Sitting to-morrow?
§ MR. W. H. SMITHsaid, it would. The House would meet at 12 o'clock.