§ MR. SALT (Stafford)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury if a Lunacy Law Consolidation Bill—inasmuch as it will probably contain no contentious matter—can be introduced and passed into law, in the ensuing Session of Parliament, before the Lunacy Bill of the present Session comes into operation?
§ * MR. W. H. SMITHIn this House last week an Amendment was inserted, on Report, into the Lunacy Amendment Bill, postponing its operation till next May, with the express view of making it possible to pass a Bill consolidating the Lunacy Acts before that date. This Consolidation Bill will be laid on the Table of the other House before the adjournment this Session.
§ MR. H. GARDNER (Essex, Saffron Walden)May I ask the right hon. Gentleman to consider to what great inconvenience hon. Members have been put by the putting down of the Tithe Bill about 14 times. Will he fix a definite day for it, and then take it de die in diem?
§ * MR. W. H. SMITHI am very anxious to give the House all information with regard to the course of public business. But it is not in my power to fix the time which will be occupied with the business standing on the Orders before this particular measure. It is, however, the intention of the Government to take the Tithe Bill on Monday next. As I am referring to public business, I may say that, perhaps, it may be necessary to ask the House to sit on Saturday. ["Oh, oh!"] I make this announcement because I do not wish to take hon. Members by surprise. Gentlemen who object to a Saturday sitting are well aware that those who sit on this Bench are the greatest sufferers. I believe there is a strong desire not to prolong the Session, and I think it my duty to ask the House to sit on Saturday.
§ MR. G. O. MORGAN (Denbighshire, E.)Will the Tithe Bill be taken on Monday, whether the Irish Estimates are finished or not?
§ * MR. W. H. SMITHI hope the Irish Estimates may be concluded tomorrow; if not, they may be taken on Saturday.
§ MR. SEXTONDoes the right hon. Gentleman really think he will advance business by forcing the Estimates in this way?
§ * MR. W. H. SMITHI hope the right hon. Gentleman will not use the word "force." I wish to carry the House with me. No doubt it is inconvenient to every Member to be here on Saturday.
§ MR. G. O. MORGANIf the Irish Estimates are not taken on Mon- 797 day, will the Tithe Bill be taken as the first Order?
§ * MR. W. H. SMITHIt will be substantially the first Order. Sometimes it is necessary to take a purely formal Measure first. The Bill will be taken on Monday, or at the latest on Tuesday.
MR. STAVELEY HILLDoes the right hon. Gentleman propose to proceed with it de die in diem, as it will probably last some time?
§ * MR. W. H. SMITHCertainly, Sir; we propose to proceed with it until it is disposed of.
§ MR. C. W. GRAY (Essex, Maldon)May I ask whether, in the event of the Tithe Bill being passed, the Government will introduce a comprehensive Measure next Session dealing with the whole Tithe Rent charge Question?
§ * MR. W. H. SMITHI have more than once stated during the present Session that it was the wish of the Government to propose a comprehensive Measure on the Tithe Question. But we found it was a more difficult matter than we had anticipated, and the Bill prepared on the subject has not been introduced. The course the Government intend to take is either to bring forward a Measure of the character my hon. Friend has mentioned or to ask the House to concur with the other House in appointing a Joint Committee to inquire into the whole question with a view to legislation at the earliest possible opportunity.
§ SIR G. CAMPBELLAre we to understand that the other Estimates are to be postponed until the Tithes Bill has been disposed of?
§ * MR. W. H. SMITHYes, Sir.
MR. LAWSONMay I ask the First Lord of the Treasury when the second or substituted London County Council Bill will be circulated among Members; whether the County Council will have an opportunity of considering it, and when the Second Reading will be taken?
§ MR. JACKSONIf the Bill has not already been circulated, it is certainly now in the Vote Office. We hope to proceed with it to-morrow night.
§ MR. MUNDELLAAre we to understand that no measure on the Paper will be taken this week before 12 o'clock, and that the Estimates are to be taken during the whole week, including Saturday?
§ * MR. W. H. SMITHThat is rather a large order. But it is the intention of the Government to adhere to the Estimates this week, and to give full time to them.
§ MR. H. GARDNERWill the proposed Commission have power to inquire into the working of the Tithe Commutation Act, 1836? And may I also ask whether the Government is in possession of any information on the subject that they did not possess two years ago, when they refused me a Commission?
§ * MR. W. H. SMITHThe hon. Gentleman is mistaken in supposing we suggest a Commission; I said a Joint Committee of both Houses.