§ MR. KNOWLES (Salford, W.)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury if it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to proclaim the wedding-day of H.R.H. the Duke of York, 6th July, a public holiday?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. W. E. GLADSTONE,) Edinburgh, MidlothianThe hon. Gentleman will doubtless be aware that the Government has the power under the Act of Parliament of proclaiming holidays either generally or locally. There is no case of a general holiday being proclaimed under the Act except on the day of the Queen's Jubilee. There has been a case in which a local holiday for London has been proclaimed, and local holidays have also been proclaimed in other places. Speaking generally, I should say this is evidently a matter on which the Government ought to watch for manifestations of public sentiment. That is what the Government will do; they will be guided by these manifestations as to any eourse they may or may not adopt.