§ MR. BRYCE (Aberdeen, S.)I desire to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, having regard not only to the inconvenience of short notice, but also to the fact that on all previous occasions when propositions of the kind which the right hon. Gentleman is to make to-morrow have been made longer notice has been given, he seriously proposes to take the notice standing in his name to-morrow.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURYes, Sir, I quite seriously propose it. I do not exactly understand what the right hon. Gentleman's objection is. Of course, if there are difficulties in the way of his marshalling his forces in order to deal with the question, I should sympathise with him. But it is certainly not a question in regard to which elaborate considerations have to be worked out, or on which hon. Gentlemen require time to prepare their speeches.
§ MR. BRYCEAs I am challenged on the subject I will tell the right hon. Gentleman why we think longer notice is necessary. It is because we look upon this occasion as one of the utmost gravity and because many Members of the House who have business engagements made long ago will find it very difficult to be present tomorrow. Among them is the Leader of the Opposition, who is absent at this moment. I ask the right hon. Gentleman, considering that the interests of the country and of this House must necessarily be involved in this matter, whether it would not be in accordance with his sense of due respect to the House of Commons to give longer notice.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI think the right hon. Gentleman is labouring under a mistake. I have not refreshed my memory with the degree of notice given with regard to the Home Rule Bill, the Evicted Tenants Bill, the Education Bill, or the other Bills to which this process has been applied; but I certainly do not see why the interval which I have given between yesterday and to-morrow is not sufficient to enable hon. Members to make up their minds on the subject.
§ MR. BRYCEThe right hon. Gentleman did not give notice yesterday. The 181 notice only came to the knowledge of Members of the House this morning when the Papers were delivered. With regard to the Education Bill, the right hon. Gentleman gave notice at the end of a Friday sitting and did not take the Motion until the following Tuesday.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURCan the right hon. Gentleman also refresh my memory with regard to the Evicted Tenants Bill?