§ MR. T. W. RUSSELL (Tyrone, S.)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether it is proposed to give special facilities for either of the Bills on the Order Paper interfering with the discretion of the justices in the granting o licences for the sale of intoxicating liquors.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI have explained to the House on many occasions that it would be impossible for me to give facilities to any private Member's Bill which was of a controversial character. There is no doubt that the two Bills, to which my hon. friend refers, whatever their other merits may be, are of a controversial character, and therefore it would be quite impossible or me to violate the well-understood Rule, on the maintenance of which depends a great deal of the dignity and expedition of our proceedings at the end of the session.
§ SIR WILLIAM LAWSON (Cornwall, Camborne)When will the right hon. Gentleman make his promised statement on this subject?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURIf the hon. Baronet will put down a Question next week I will answer it.