§ On the Motion for the adjournment of the House,
§ MR. J. DILLON (Mayo, E.), referring to the Motion which stood in the name of the Leader of the House, with regard to the business of Supply, 679 said that it was of an extremely complicated, comprehensive, and novel character, and he asked whether it would not be fair to give hon. Members a few days to consider the proposal before they were invited to discuss it. ["Hear, hear !"]
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR,) Manchester, E.said, that if the hon. Gentleman thought that more time was required in order that hon. Members might ascertain the scope of the Motion he should of course give it. Perhaps the most convenient course would be for him to make his statement to-morrow, and then to adjourn the Debate until Monday. He should consider whether he would adopt that course, or whether it would be better to adjourn the whole discussion until a later day. ["Hear, hear !"] He was inclined at present to think that it would be better if he made his statement to-morrow, and to defer the discussion until Monday. The change was not very convenient to the Government, because it was a revolution in the Order of Business, and had come on unexpectedly; but he would make it as convenient as he could by bringing in such Bills as his colleagues were prepared to proceed with. ["Hear, hear !"]
§ SIR WILLIAM HARCOURT (Monmouthshire, W.)said, the right hon. Gentleman had met the request of the hon. Member for East Mayo in a very conciliatory spirit, and it was only reasonable that the House should not be called upon to decide the question tomorrow. He was very much obliged to the right hon. Gentleman for having at once assented to the request for further time to consider the Motion, because, after all, on the Front Benches, they were "suspects upon these questions." [Laughter.] He had always felt that on questions of this kind affecting the rights of Private Members further time should be given for such consideration. The House would be perfectly well pleased to-morrow, after the right hon. Gentleman had made his statement, and probably some observations had been made upon it, that the discussion should be adjourned until Monday. ["Hear, hear !"]
MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis), pointed out that the last paragraph 680 of the Motion related to the withdrawal of the Clauses of Bills, which was an entirely different matter, and should be dealt with independently.
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYsaid that that was his intention, and that it was by a printer's error that it had not been put down separately. ["Hear, hear !"]