§ MR. BRYCEMay I ask when the Prime Minister proposes to take the Lords Amendments to the Licensing Bill and the Third Reading of the Appropriation Bill.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURsaid that, if he did not misrepresent the feeling on either side of the House, he thought it was in the direction of showing that it was desired, as soon as they reasonably could, to draw the necessary business of the session to a close. After the Appropriation Bill was concluded he proposed to take the Committee stage of the Irish Land Bill. He would then propose to take the Expiring Laws Continuance Bill. They might then take the Licensing Bill, the subjects for discussion in which were not very important, so far as he was able to judge. Then he proposed to take the Public Works Loans Bill and the Isle of Man Customs Bill. There might be some other Bills which were wholly of an uncontroversial character, but those he had mentioned would be taken first.
§ MR. BRYCEsaid that of course they did not know how long discussion of the Appropriation Bill would last, but it would be very undesirable to take the Lords Amendments to the Licensing Bill in the small hours.
MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)I gather that the right hon. Gentleman 252 does not intend to take the Whales Scotland) Bill.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURNot if my hon. friend has the same keen, but not friendly, interest in big fishes that he has in small. But I think by agreement that Bill might be taken.
§ MR. SYDNEY BUXTON (Tower Hamlets, Poplar)asked after what time the Amendments to the Licensing Bill would not be taken.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURsaid that he would not like to put a limit to that. He hoped that they would come to some friendly arrangement about business, but he might say specifically that he did not propose to take the Cunard Agreement or the Capital Expenditure Bill that night.
§ SIR CHARLES DILKEDo you propose to take the Army Council Bill?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURsaid that it was quite impossible to pass that Bill.
§ SIR CHARLES DILKEAnd also the Anglo-French Convention Bill? inasmuch as it is not likely, I understand, to be ratified by the French Chamber.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI do not want to enter into broad questions of international policy, but I think the right hon. Baronet will see that it would be a pity if we did not pass this. It would mean that for six months longer the matter would hang in suspense. I think the French Chamber will probably deal with the Bill the moment they meet; but of course if they refuse to ratify it there will be no injury to this country owing to our having passed it.
§ SIR CHARLES DILKEsaid he did not want to stand in the way of the Bill, but he simply raised the point because he had information that the Chamber were not likely to ratify it.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOUROh, I think they are.
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSON (Dundee)Will there be a Saturday sitting?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURsaid it would be necessary to have a Saturday sitting. He trusted that it would be the last sitting of the session, but that would depend on the friendly arrangements with regard to business which they might make.
§ MR. H. J. WILSON (Yorkshire, W.R. Holmfirth)At what hour will the Saturday sitting be held?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURAccording to the almost invariable practice, at 12 o'clock.