§ DR. FARQUHARSON (Aberdeenshire, W.)I beg to ask whether the ordinary business of the House will be suspended to-night at eleven o'clock in order to afford an opportunity for the discussion of the various Motions with regard to the Scotch University Commission?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR,) Manchester, E.I am not aware that there has been any change since my last answer to a question on this subject. What I said was that I quite recognised the desirability of, if possible, commencing the discussion at an earlier hour than twelve, but I could not promise to do so unless we made good progress with the Small Holdings Bill. If we do that, I shall be prepared to move the adjournment of the Committee soon after eleven o'clock. But the hon. Gentleman will see that the Government have only power over the Government Orders of the Day; and that, unless there be an understanding that the forty odd Bills down in the names of private Members should not be taken, there will be an almost insuperable difficulty in the way.
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN (Stirling, &c.)There might have been a notice of Motion on the Paper to the effect that the subject of these Ordinances be taken after the first Order of the Day, because it is absurd to suppose 374 that we can run the gauntlet of 66 Orders of the Day with any prospect of getting to the discussion of the Scotch Universities question after twelve o'clock. I therefore appeal to the right hon. Gentleman to say whether he could not now make some other arrangement?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURIf good progress is made with the Small Holdings Bill I should be willing to stop that Bill on an Evening Sitting in order that the Scotch Universities question may be discussed. That, however, seems a course hardly practicable to-night. But perhaps hon. Members would prefer a brief discussion at the Morning Sitting to-morrow, and in that case we might adjourn consideration of the Small Holdings Bill at twenty to six o'clock. There would, in that case, be a discussion of at least an hour.
§ MR. J. MORLEY (Newcastle-upon-Tyne)On this subject I would suggest that it is possible, with the consent of the House, to now make a Motion postponing other Orders in favour of this. Perhaps, Mr. Speaker, you will tell me whether I am in order?
§ MR. SPEAKERIf it is the general wish of the House the First Lord of the Treasury can doubtless make such a Motion.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURWell, with the consent of the House, I shall be glad to move—
That the several Notices of Motion relating to the Scottish Universities Commission Ordinances have precedence this day of all Orders of the Day and Notices of Motion subsequent to the first Order of the Day.
§ Motion agreed to.
§ MR. LABOUCHERE (Northampton)Do we understand that the arrangement holds good that as soon as the Small Holdings Bill is through Committee the Irish Local Government Bill will be taken?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThat is the view of the Government. The only conceivable doubt is with reference to the Budget proposals, which have been postponed partly because my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer (Mr. Goschen) was not able to be in his place, and partly because the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Derby (Sir W. Harcourt) could not make it convenient to be present at the beginning 375 of this week. With that exception the Order will stand as the hon. Gentleman has suggested.
§ MR. SEXTON (Belfast, W.)May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the Irish Education Bill will follow the Irish Local Government Bill?
§ MR. THOMAS ELLIS (Merionethshire)I should like to ask whether Supply will be taken this Session?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURYes, Sir, I hope so. As to the Education Bill, I can give no answer respecting that until we see how we are getting on with the Bills I have already mentioned.