§ SIR RICHARD TEMPLE (Surrey, Kingston)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he will set down the North Sea Fisheries Bill (Committee) among the first Orders of the Day for an early date?
§ MR. MUNDELLAThe Bill referred to is in substitution of an Act passed by my Predecessor in 1888, and is merely to ratify an International Convention recently agreed upon. It is not usual to place such non-contentious measures among the first Orders of the Day, nor are they usually opposed at any hour. The former Bill was only 11 days on the Paper from its introduction to its Third Reading, and was passed through all its stages after midnight, whereas this Bill has been opposed night after night for about two months. I hope, having regard to its important and beneficent character, it will be allowed to go through to-night.
§ MR. HENEAGE (Great Grimsby)May I ask the Prime Minister whether, as this Bill is to carry out an international engagement, and could be carried in a few minutes, seeing that it is identical with a measure already on the Statute Book, and seeing that England is the only Power which has not passed legislation in pursuance of the international arrangement, he will give facilities for its passage?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. W. E. GLADSTONE,) Edinburgh, MidlothianI will answer the question if the right hon. Member will put it down.
§ MR. MUNDELLAPerhaps the right hon. Gentleman will take an answer from me. If hon. Gentlemen opposite will allow the Bill to come on after 12 o'clock it will be through in five minutes.
§ MR. HANBURY (Preston)May I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman distinctly refuses to put down this important Bill before 12 o'clock now that the Government have the whole time of the House?
§ MR. MUNDELLAThe late Government passed the previous Bill after 12 o'clock without a word of discussion. The present Bill is identical with that passed by the late Government, and there has not been a single Amendment put down.