§ SIR H. VIVIAN (Swansea, District)I desire to ask the First Lord of the Treasury, who has expressed his hope that the House will pass the Tithe Bill, after what date he will not consider it his duty to press that very contentious measure upon the House, in view of what occurred last year?
§ *MR. W. H. SMITHPerhaps the hon. Baronet will allow mo to defer making any statement with regard to the particular date of a particular measure until after the House has had a little more time for progressing with business. I undertook, last Monday, at the suggestion of right hon. Gentlemen opposite, to refer to-day to the question of public business, and I should have been very glad if it had been possible for me to make definitive proposals to the House with a view to the winding up of the business of the Session, which I am aware Gentlemen on all sides of the House desire to see accomplished as early as possible. I would remind the House that the Government have thought it right to propose to the House the consideration of a Standing Order which is intended to provide for the better forwarding of Public Business in this and in future Sessions, and that the whole question of the consideration of the best method by which business may be forwarded has been referred to a strong Committee, which is now considering the question, and which I hops may be able to report in the course of a few days. It will then, without doubt, be the duty of the Government to make some proposals to the House, after they have considered the Report of that Committee, and those proposals must very considerably affect the arrangements the 698 Government will ultimately make for the conclusion of the business of the Session. In these circumstances, I do not feel in a position to offer to the House any suggestion as to the period within which, or as to the method by which, the business of the House should be concluded. The House is aware that we have endeavoured to proceed during the last few days with Bills that have been generally of a non-contentious character. Those Bills will be proceeded with, and I have stated that Supply will be taken to-night, and, I hope, after the consideration of some other non-contentious measures, tomorrow night and during the whole of next week. I trust the House will feel that, having made arrangements in the circumstances of the case for the conduct of business, so far as next week is concerned, I am at liberty to request hon. Members to wait for the consideration of the Resolution to be arrived at by the Committee upstairs before I state to the House definitely the recommendations the Government propose to make with regard to the remaining business of the Session.
MR. HUNTERAs to the Scotch Police Bill, is it proposed to proceed with it to-night? I may point out that it will be impossible to agree with the recommendation to refer the matter to a Select Committee, unless it is taken at such an early hour as to afford a fair opportunity for the discussion of an Instruction I have put down. If the Government are prepared to accept the Instruction no doubt progress with the Bill will be facilitated.
§ *MR. W. H. SMITHIt is not proposed to proceed with the reference to the English Police Bill to the Standing Committee to-day, but we hope to proceed with it to-morrow. I trust we may also proceed with the reference to a Select Committee of the Scotch Bill to-morrow, and that hon. Members opposite will assist us in effecting that object.
§ MR. A. M'ARTHUR (Leicester)When will the Third Reading of the Western Australia Bill be taken?
§ *MR. W. H. SMITHI believe tomorrow.
§ MR. E. ROBERTSON (Dundee)Will the Scotch Police Bill be taken before the English Bill?
§ *MR. W. H. SMITHNo, Sir.
§ *MR. CREMER (Shoreditch, Haggerston)Do I understand the First Lord of the Treasury to say that the Western Australia Bill will not be taken tonight? It is on the Orders of the Day, and the right hon. Gentleman has intimated that it will be taken to-morrow. Are we to understand that the Government will not bring it forward to-night?
§ *MR. W. H. SMITHI have every reason to believe that Supply will occupy the whole evening.
SIR GTREVELYAN (Glasgow, Bridgeton)What Supply do the Government intend to take to-morrow?
§ *MR. W. H. SMITHI hope we may be able to dispose of the War Office Vote this evening, but if it is not disposed of to-night we must take it to-morrow.