§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. W. H. SMITH, Strand, Westminster)I think it may be for the convenience of the House that I should at once indicate in general terms the arrangements the Government intend to propose in regard to the Business of the House during the course of the present Session. Obviously it would be most unfair to hon. Gentlemen if proposals were made at a later stage which interfered with the arrangements for Bills of which they may give notice. The Government feel that in asking the House to meet at this period of the year they are exposing 38 hon. Members to inconvenience which is only to be justified by the urgent necessity of passing the important measures of which my right hon. Friends have given notice. Under these circumstances, the Government think it will be for the convenience of the House that the whole time of the House shall be taken for the consideration of those measures until they have passed the stage of Second Reading and the Speaker is out of the Chair. The measure dealing with the anticipated distress in Ireland, to enable Railway Companies in existence to construct or take over proposals for the construction of railways in the congested districts of Ireland, we desire the House to consider before the Christmas Recess. As soon as the House has made progress in the direction I have indicated, the Government will be glad to meet what they believe will be the desire of the House—that is, adjourn for a reasonable holiday till after Christmas. I propose to move the Resolution for time as soon as the Address has been disposed of.
§ MR. LEA (Londonderry, S.)Will the First Lord of the Treasury state when he will move the Resolution giving Bills which have attained certain stages precedence over other Bills? That has usually been done at Whitsuntide; but as Parliament is now meeting earlier than usual, I should like to know if it is intended to bring the Standing Order on the subject earlier into operation.
§ MR. W. H. SMITHThe hon. Gentleman did not give me notice of this question, and I have had no opportunity to consider it; but I think, if he looks at the almanac, Whitsuntide comes earlier next year than usual, and the matter is not, therefore, quite so urgent as he suggests. Any Bill to secure precedence has to be read a first and second time, and therefore the choice of facilities depends greatly on good fortune in the Ballot.
§ MR. LEABut we must to-morrow fix the date for the Second Reading, and it is of no use choosing a date after the Standing Order is to come into force.
§ MR. W. H. SMITHI think the hon. Gentleman will find, if he has the misfortune to be placed so low down in the Ballot as not to get a Second Reading till then, that he is hardly likely to get the subsequent precedence which he desires.
§ SIR W. LAWSON (Cumberland, Cockermouth)What arrangement has been made for bringing in the Bills to-morrow? Will it be before the resumption of the Debate or after an early adjournment?
§ MR. CREMERI should also like to ask for information as to the probable duration of the Christmas Recess? Will the House re-assemble about the middle of January, or at the end of the month?
§ MR. W. H. SMITHIn reply to the hon. Baronet, I think it will be for the convenience of the House that an adjournment of the Debate should take place to-morrow shortly after 4 o'clock—[Opposition cries of "Three o'clock!"]—well, half-past 3, which is, I think, the usual course. With regard to the hon. Member's question as to the Christmas holidays, he will see that their duration must to a considerable extent depend upon the progress of business. I should hope that the progress I have indicated may be obtained, and, in that event, I should propose that the House re-assemble about the end of the third week in January—that is, about the 22nd.