§ SIR G. CAMPBELL (Kirkcaldy, &c.)I wish to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, considering the strain upon the officers of the House, he will consider whether it is not desirable that, for the remainder of the Session, the House should meet at 12 o'clock, so as to obviate the necessity for its sitting till 3 or 4 o'clock in the morning, as in the last two sittings?
§ * THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. W. H. SMITH, Strand, Westminster)I fear that the strain both on Members and upon the Officers of the House would prove much greater if they were brought down to the House at 12 o'clock, and perhaps still had to sit to late hours.
§ SIR G. CAMPBELLI meant that the House, if it met at 12, should rise earlier, so that the strain should not be so great.
§ MR. T. M. HEALY (Longford, N.)May I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman will not consider it desirable to bring some pressure to bear on his own supporters, who occupied a large portion of the time at the Last stitting?
§ MR. W. H. SMITHI am aware that Members on the Ministerial side of the House occupied a considerable amount of the time at the last sitting, and I greatly regret it. The hon. Member, however, is a ware of the licence to which Members on his own side of the House feel themselves entitled in discussing questions which they deem of great importance, and Members opposite will, therefore, no doubt, have some compassion for others.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYWhat I was referring to was the time occupied by Members opposite about 3 o'clock in the morning.