THE EASTER HOLIDAYS AND PUBLIC BUSINESS. (Hansard, 27 March 1890)

§ MR. HOWARD VINCENT (Sheffield, Central)
I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury, if, in fixing the period of the Easter adjournment, he will consider the desirability of making it as short as possible, with a view to the grant of a reasonable recess in mid-Session at Whitsuntide?

MR. J. MORLEY
May I further ask the First Lord of the Treasury, if the Tithe Bill is read a second time this week, on what day next week, and from when to when, ho will move the adjournment of the House?

§ *THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. W. H. SMITH,) Strand, Westminster
I have to consider the convenience of the House and also the exigencies of the public: business. But I hope, on the assumption to which the right hon. Gentleman refers, that the Tithe Bill will be read a second time to-morrow, and also on the further assumption that we are able to get Votes in Supply in Class 1, on Monday, which are absolutely necessary, I shall be prepared to move the adjournment at a morning sitting on Tuesday. But in the event of any disappointment I shall be obliged to ask the House to sit for Supply on Tuesday, and delay the adjournment till a later day. I have had to consider carefully the condition of business, both inside and outside the House. It has been represented to me that Easter week is one in which hon. Members are engaged in their respective counties on the County Councils almost all over the country; and, having regard to the duties they have to discharge in the counties as well as in the House, I have thought it better 32 on the whole to propose that the House should adjourn till Monday, the 14th. That, I think, is an arrangement which, on the whole, although it gives a longer holiday than I should have wished to propose, will be satisfactory. I am glad to see that a proposition of that kind is not altogether unwelcome to Gentlemen opposite, who do not generally accept suggestions made from this Bench. If we can count on the assistance of the House on Monday I shall be prepared to move the adjournment on Tuesday.

MR. J. MORLEY
Do we understand that if the Votes are taken on Monday there will be nothing on Tuesday except the Motion to adjourn?

§ *MR. W. H. SMITH
Yes, Sir; unless there is some Bill of a minor character which we wish to advance a stage.

MR. J. MORLEY
In that case, will the Budget still be taken on the 14th instant?

§ *MR. W. H. SMITH
I think it would be for the convenience of the House to adhere to that arrangement. But the subject can be mentioned again to-morrow. I should have said that the Report of Supply must be taken on Tuesday before the adjournment.

§ MR. LABOUCHERE
How much money and how many Votes is it absolutely necessary to get before Easter?

§ *MR. W. H. SMITH
The hon. Gentleman will, I am sure, give us his assistance; he is always so ready to come to the assistance of the Government, and when the time comes I will give him all the information which is necessary.

§ MR. H. H. FOWLER
As it has always been the custom after the Recess to take Supply on the first night, will it not be more convenient to have the Budget on Thursday instead of Monday?

§ *MR. W. H. SMITH
If I understand that to be the general wish of hon. and right hon. Gentlemen I will undertake that this arrangement shall be made. But I thought, looking to the importance of the Budget, that it was desirable to take it as early as possible.

§ MR. SEXTON
I assume that neither Irish Supply nor the Second Reading of the Land Bill will be taken before Thursday, the 17th?

§ *MR. W. H. SMITH
That is so.