§ Mr. CHARLES BATHURSTI beg to ask the Chairman of Ways and Means a question, of which I have given him private notice: Whether, in view of the increasing importance, cost, and scope of the work of the Board of Agriculture and the general desire among Members in all quarters of the House that there should be adequate time and opportunity for full discussion of its policy and administration, he can make arrangements that no private Bill shall be taken upon the day upon which the Vote for this Department is put down for consideration?
§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that on the Post Office Vote three hours were taken up by a private Bill, and can he arrange that in regard to matters of Supply an effort should be made in all cases not to put down private Bills on Supply nights?
§ The CHAIRMAN of WAYS and MEANS (Mr. Whitley)The hon. and learned Member's supplementary question has just illustrated the difficulties of the case. In reply to the hon. Member for Wiltshire (Mr. C. Bathurst), I will do my best to meet the hon. Member's wishes, but I can make no definite promise. The private Bill work this year is somewhat in arrear owing to the late beginning of the Session, and the House has imposed upon me the duty of getting through that work as early as possible. I take this opportunity of asking the two hon. Members, and hon. Members generally, to assist me in more rapidly disposing of the private Bill work in the early days of the Session.