§ MR. CUNINGHAME GRAHAM (Lanark, N.W.)I beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will allow the Mines (Eight Hours) Bill to be read a second time and be referred to the Select Committee on Railway Servants (Hours of Labour); if not, considering the Government has secured the whole time of the House, will he arrange a day for the continuation of the Debate on the Second Reading of the Bill?
§ MR. GOSCHENThe House would probably not allow the Bill to be referred to a Select Committee without considerable Debate, and, as my right hon. Friend (Mr. W. H. Smith) has already stated, it is quite impossible for the Government to find a day for the Bill.
§ MR. CUNINGHAME GRAHAMHaving regard to the extreme importance of the question and the statement at the Miners' Congress held in Paris that in the event of difficulty being found in obtaining the attention of Governments in Europe to this subject, it might be advisable to direct a general strike, I would ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it is not possible for him to re-consider his answer so that such a lamentable result may not be brought about by reason of a single day's Debate being refused?
§ MR. GOSCHENI cannot change the answer I have given the hon. Member. My right hon. Friend cannot possibly find time.
§ MR. CUNINGHAME GRAHAMIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the answer given me the other day by the First Lord of the Treasury had reference to the general Eight Hours Bill, not the special Bill in reference to miners? The right hon. Gentleman will observe the two questions are quite distinct; one Bill embraces all trades, the other relates to mining only.
§ MR. GOSCHENThere is no time at the disposal of the Government for the purpose.
§ MR. CUNINGHAME GRAHAMAm I to understand that the subject is not to be discussed, although
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder, order!