HC Deb 18 December 1893 vol 19 cc1616-7
MR. J. LOWTHER (Kent, Thanet)

I would ask the right hon. Gentleman the Prime Minister whether he could state at what hour the House will meet on Friday; at what hour the proposed adjournment will take place; and at what hour the Motion for Adjournment will be made?

MR. W. E. GLADSTONE

The question is a very proper one. My right hon. Friend near me (Mr. Marjoribanks) is in communication with those gentlemen who can give him the best information with respect to the feeling in all quarters of the House. No doubt it is proposed to meet on Friday, and I hope the Government will be able to make a very early announcement as to the hour of meeting.

SIR J. FERGUSSON (Manchester, N. E.)

I wish to ask whether the right hon. Gentleman has considered the great inconvenience which will be caused to hon. Members whose residences are at a great distance from London by his arrangement that the House shall be called together on Wednesday, the 27th?

MR. W. E. GLADSTONE

I view the inconveniences occasioned to all hon. Members with very great regret and pain, but the heavy burdens cast upon the House render them inevitable. It is entirely beyond my power to meet the difficulty.

MR. SEXTON (Kerry, N.)

I would ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he is aware that the feeling of the Irish Members whose homes are most remote from the House is rather one of disappointment that the House does not meet on the 26th.

MR. W. E. GLADSTONE

I am, to some extent, aware that such is the case; but the object of the Government has been to make, I will not say the best, but the least objectionable arrangement for the convenience of the whole House.

MR. COURTNEY (Cornwall, Bodmin)

I would suggest that if it is absolutely necessary to meet on Wednesday the hour of meeting should be 4 o'clock instead of 12 o'clock. That would avoid the necessity of many hon. Members coming up to town on the Tuesday, on which day, owing to the holiday season, the railway arrangements will he extremely awkward.

MR. W. E. GLADSTONE

The suggestion of the right hon. Gentleman is rather a friendly one, and that we will certainly consider. There would be some small gain by it.

MR. BARTLEY (Islington, N.)

I would ask whether the right hon. Gentleman will take precautions to secure the presence of all the Ministers, because there will be a great many questions put to them on that day?