§ MR. ARTHUR J. MOORE (Londonderry)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he has received a memorial signed by fifty Irish members of all sections of political opinion expressing their desire to see the Agriculture and Technical Instruction (Ireland) Bill passed this session, and whether he can now fix a date for the discussion of the Second Reading.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI have received more than one memorial, from which it is clear that a very large number, I believe the large majority, of Irish Members in this House are anxious to see this Bill passed into law in the course of the present session. I have, on more than one occasion, explained to the House and to Gentlemen representing Irish constituencies that it was impossible, in the nature of things, that any very long period of time should be given for discussion on this Bill, and that, unless hon. Gentlemen were content to curtail such Debate, it was impossible that it should pass into law. If, however, the expression of the wish on the part of the Irish Members that the Bill should pass carries with it as a corollary their intention that the Debate should be of a limited cha-
§ racter, I am prepared to take the Second Reading of the Bill upon Wednesday next, if it be understood that there will be no important opposition made to the reference of the Bill, after the Second Reading has been passed, to a grand Committee.
§ CAPTAIN DONELANWill the Bill be put down as first Order?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURYes, on the conditions stated.