§ SIR J. LUBBOCK (London University)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether Her Majesty's Government propose to proclaim a holiday on the day of the marriage of His Royal Highness the Duke of York? In putting this question, I may, perhaps, he allowed to say that among the London bankers the feeling is in favour of a holiday, and I am informed that the Early Closing Association has evidence of a desire among shopkeepers in many towns and districts of London in the same sense. In any ease, it would be convenient to know soon the intentions of the Government; but, of course, I will postpone the question if my right hon. Friend wishes it.
§ MR. DALZIELMay I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman is aware that the Glasgow Trades Council, which represents all the principal Trade Unions in the West of Scotland, has unanimously protested against the proclamation of a public holiday; and whether, in view of the substantial pecuniary loss that would be inflicted upon workmen by the proclamation of a holiday, he will consider the advisability of leaving the matter entirely to the discretion of individual localities?
§ MR. CREMER (Shoreditch, Haggerston)I wish to ask a question somewhat akin to that. It is whether the right hon. Gentleman, before coming to any decision, will consider the serious loss which a forced abstention from labour for even one day must entail upon millions of working men in the United Kingdom?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. W. E. GLADSTONE,) Edinburgh, MidlothianAs I intimated on Friday, there must necessarily be some delay before I shall be in a position to give a full reply to the question. When the subject was first broached it appeared to me at once that the present state of trade in the country and the danger of imposing, except with almost unanimous concurrence, any limitation upon the opportunities of employment formed an element in the case which must he taken into consideration.