§ SIR D. MACFARLANEI beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will follow the precedent established by the late Mr. Smith, and name a date when the Evicted Tenants Bill and the Equalisation of Rates Bill shall be reported to the House? I wish further to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that when the House went into Committee on the Bill yesterday the number of Amendments to the first clause upon the Paper was 222, and that, after eight hours' discussion, there still remained 214 Amendments to be disposed of?
§ MR. J. REDMOND (Waterford)Before the right hon. Gentleman answers that question, I would ask permission to put an additional one. It is, whether he will take into consideration the advisability of proposing a Resolution that the Evicted Tenants Bill be reported on a particular date; also providing in the same Resolution a definite space of time for the discussion of each of the five or six contentious clauses in the Bill?
§ SIR W. HARCOURTAt present the answer that I have to give is that, when the time arrives, the Government will announce to the House the measures which they think necessary to enable the House of Commons to transact the business of the country.
§ SIR D. MACFARLANECan the right hon. Gentleman state approximately when that announcement will be made?
§ SIR W. HARCOURTI have said that the announcement would be made when the proper time arrives.