§ MR. A. C. MORTONI beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he proposes to suspend the Twelve o'Clock Rule on Thursday next, with a view to taking the Second Reading of the Home Rule Bill on that night?
§ MR. CHANNING (Northampton, E.)I also beg to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, with a view to proceed with the Second Reading of the Parish Councils Bill, the Employers' Liability Bill, and other measures of the greatest importance to British constituencies, and having regard to the fact that Motions affecting the English and Scottish counties and agricultural districts stand for Friday next and Friday, 5th May, he will take steps to bring the Debate on the Second Reading of the Government 559 of Ireland Bill to a close on Thursday at latest?
§ MR. W. E. GLADSTONEI confess it is our opinion that it would be agreeable to reason, and very much for the convenience of the House, if the Debate should close on Thursday evening. The House having been laboriously occupied with the Debate a long time, to have some option as to the mode of spending Friday evening would be an advantage to many Members. At the same time, it is not in our power to determine whether the Debate shall close on Thursday evening, and undoubtedly we have no intention to bring about an unprofitable strife on the subject, which would tend to import more heat into the general discussion—an importation which should regard as a very decided public evil on a question of this magnitude; and in the peculiar circumstances it is not our wish to be responsible for anything tending in that direction. I am bound to say I do not think it would be consistent with comfort—I might almost say with humanity—and I do not think it is required by public policy or agreeable to it that we should ask for the suspension of the Twelve o'Clook Rule on Thursday evening simply for the sake of affording an additional vent for those Members who have not been fortunate enough to find a chance of speaking. we have no intention of doing that; and if it were done on Thursday night it ought to be done only in case we should find the House generally inclined to close the Debate on that evening.
§ MR. A. C. MORTONIf Friday is taken for the Home Rule Debate, cannot the right hon. Gentleman let the House have Tuesday for the discussion of the Resolution with regard to the appointment of Justices?
§ MR. W. E. GLADSTONENo, Sir; I could not enter into an arrangement of that kind. The subject stands in the same category as other subjects. But I am glad to say it already occupies a vantage ground on a day not far distant, so that the House will not be deprived of an opportunity of discussing it.