PUBLIC BUSINESS. (Hansard, 17 June 1889)

§ * MR. W. H. SMITH
said it was not proposed to take the Irish Drainage Bills that night.

§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN (Stirling Burghs)
asked what was the intention of the Government in reference to the Army and Navy Estimates? Did the First Lord of the Treasury propose to take the Navy Estimates if the Army Estimates were not disposed of?

§ * MR. W. H. SMITH
It is intended to go on with the Army Estimates as long as we can, and, if we have the opportunity, to take the Navy Estimates also.

§ SIR W. LAWSON (Cumberland, Cockermouth)
Will the Sugar Convention Bill be brought on on Thursday? It is down as one of the Orders for that day.

§ * MR. W. H. SMITH
I think that some understanding may be arrived at in reference to Public Business after I have moved the Motion which stands on the Paper in my name.

§ DR. FARQUHARSON (Aberdeenshire, W.)
Is it the intention of the Government to take Vote 4—the Medical Vote—to-night? Would it not be more convenient to postpone the discussion upon that Vote until we have before us the Report of the Departmental Committee which has been sitting on the subject?

§ * MR. W. H. SMITH
I think there is a great inconvenience in postponing Votes, unless a strong reason can be shown. I hope, therefore, that the Committee will be disposed to proceed with the Votes in the order in which they stand.

§ MR. T. ELLIS
, referring to a number of Notices on the Paper for Addresses to the Crown suggesting Amendments in the Elementary Education (New Code), asked if it was probable that they would be taken that night, or whether it was proposed to discuss them when the Code itself came on for consideration?

§ * MR. W. H. SMITH
I think it is highly improbable that they will be taken this evening. The Government are not, however, responsible for them.

§ MR. T. ELLIS
Will they be taken before the House discusses generally the Education Vote?

§ THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (Sir W. HART DYKE,) Kent, Dartford
The Amendments take the form of Addresses to the Crown. I will communicate with hon. Members on this side of the House, who have put down Amendments and urge upon them the desirability of discussing the Code and the Amendments on the same day. The Amendments have no doubt been put down so that they might be en evidence.

§ MR. MUNDELLA (Sheffield, Brightside)
May I ask whether a special sitting will not be set aside for the discussion of the Code apart from the Amendments?

§ SIR W. HART DYKE
In 1882 the Amendments to the Code and the Estimate were discussed at the same time, but of course on this occasion we shall be guided by the wish expressed by the House.

§ MR. MUNDELLA
I may remind the right hon. Gentleman that there were no Amendments on the Paper to the Code of 1882.