HC Deb 14 December 1888 vol 332 cc292-3

In reply to Mr. ESSLEMONT (Aberdeen, E.),

THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. W. H. SMITH) (Strand, Westminster)

said, the remaining Scotch Estimates would be taken at 12 o'clock to-morrow. He had undertaken that Class V. should be taken on Monday, and the Revenue Votes on Tuesday. The remaining Irish Votes would also be taken on Tuesday.

MR. HENRY H. FOWLER (Wolverhampton, E.)

suggested that the Revenue Votes should be taken on Monday.

MR. W. H. SMITH

said, he should most desire that they should; but he was under a promise that they would be taken on Tuesday. It would be greatly for the convenience of the House, and the Irish Estimates might then be taken first on Tuesday.

SIR GEORGE CAMPBELL (Kirkcaldy, &c.)

hoped the House would not be kept very late on Monday.

MR. W. H. SMITH

said, he could not make any promise. It ought to be borne in mind by hon. Members that there would be another opportunity of discussing these Estimates within three months.

MR. HUNTER (Aberdeen, N.)

asked, whether the House would adjourn at 6 o'clock to-morrow?

MR. W. H. SMITH

said, no such arrangement could be made.

MR. CHILDERS (Edinburgh, S.)

said, he hoped the House would not be kept sitting till a late hour to-morrow.

MR. W. H. SMITH

said, there again he must appeal to the House. He was sure the House desired to show consideration to the officers and the Speaker, and that it would do all in its power to facilitate the progress of Business, so that the Sitting might not be unduly prolonged; but a fixed hour of closing did afford an opportunity to any individual to stop the Business, which the Government did not think anyone ought to possess at that period of the Session.

MR. HUNTER

entered his protest against continuing the Sitting to-morrow after 6 o'clock, and he moved that the Wednesday Rule should apply to the Saturday Sitting.

MR. SPEAKER

said, that it was not competent for the hon. Member to make that Motion.

MR. W. H. SMITH

appealed to the hon. Member not to set himself against the feeling of the majority of the House. There was no desire whatever to protract the Sitting beyond getting through the necessary Business, which, in the opinion of the majority, could be got through without unduly protracting the Sitting. He therefore appealed to the hon. Gentleman, and those who thought with him, to do their best to facilitate the Business, so that the Sitting might not be protracted.

MR. ESSLEMONT

said, they wished to do all in their power to facilitate the Business of the House; but they did not wish to be placed in the position of discussing the Scotch Votes to-morrow up to an intolerably late hour, or of not discussing them at all.

MR. BRADLAUGH (Northampton)

asked, whether it was not competent for a private Member to move that the Wednesday Rule should apply to Saturday?

MR. SPEAKER

said, it could not be done without due Notice. Usually this matter had been left to the Government; and the hon. Member would observe that if a private Member were to put down a Notice of Motion it would have no precedence, and therefore it could come to nothing.

MR. HUNTER

Was Notice given by the Government that the Wednesday Rule should not apply to the Sitting tomorrow?

MR. SPEAKER

said, there was no Motion before the House.

The House suspended its Sitting at twenty-five minutes before Seven of the clock.

The House resumed its Sitting at Nine of the clock.