§ MR. ESSLEMONTSeeing that the Whitsuntide holiday is only to last three days, and it takes one day to go to the North of Scotland and another to return, I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether ho will not withdraw the Whitsuntide holidays altogether, except Whit Monday, and give us three days at the end of the Session instead?
§ MR. DILLONOn what day does the First Lord of the Treasury propose to take the Vote on Account?
§ *MR. W. H. SMITHIt will be convenient that I should say that, in the event of the Customs and Inland Revenue Bill not being passed through Committee to-night, I shall to-morrow ask the House to give precedence to it over all other Orders of the Day and Notices of Motion until the Bill is passed into law. The Vote on Account will follow the conclusion of the Customs and Inland Revenue Bill, and must be taken before the holidays. As to the question of the hon. Member for Aberdeenshire (Mr. Esslemont), I should bo sorry if he were deprived of his holidays; but I will take notice of his recommendation.
§ MR. J. ROWLANDSI beg to give notice that in the event of the right hon. Gentleman moving for precedence I shall oppose the Motion.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in 1885, when the Spirit Resolutions were before the House, it was the 8th of June before it was proposed to read the Budget Bill a second time? It is now only the 19th of May; and seeing that the question is interwoven with several Bills I would ask, what is the hurry in May, 1890?
§ *MR. W. H. SMITHI think that it would be exceedingly unwise for us to follow that bad precedent.
§ SIR W. HARCOURTDoes the right hon. Gentleman mean by a bad precedent the turning out of the Government on this question?
§ *MR. W. H. SMITHI invite the right hon. Gentleman to endeavour to accomplish that purpose.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYWill the right hon. Gentleman state when the Irish Land Bill will be dropped?
§ *MR. W. H. SMITHIf it will relievo the mind of the hon. Member I may tell him that it will not be dropped.