§ On the motion for the adjournment of the House,
§ (12.2.) MR. A. J. BALFOUR (Manchester, E.)The House will remember that a consultation took place at Question time as to the day when the discussion of the new rules should begin. I then stated, and I think I am not wrong in saying that it was the general sense of the House, that I thought it was unreasonable on the part of the Government to say that the debate should end on Friday, and that, if Thursday and Friday were not considered sufficient, the discussion would have to begin on Tuesday, though I was most reluctant to interfere with the rights of private Members. No arrangement was come to at the time, but I have since been given to understand both by the Leader of the Opposition and by the Leader of the Irish party that there is no disinclination to conclude the debate by 12 o'clock on Friday. I therefore feel that I should not be justified in interfering with private Members' business to-morrow, and the Resolutions on the Paper will therefore come on in the ordinary course.
§ Adjourned at Five minutes after Twelve o'clock.