§ * THE MARQUESS OF RIPONMy Lords, I beg leave to state that in the present state of business I propose to ask your Lordships to sit on Friday next from twelve o'clock to three, in order to take some of the Bills that remain to be dealt with. The Merchant Shipping Bill stands as the second order for to-morrow. I hope it may be then finished, but if not, I propose to take the remainder of the Committee stage of that Bill on Friday. If that is not necessary, I should propose to put down the Report stage of the Trade Disputes Bill for that day and the Report stage of the Land Tenure Bill in that order. Of course I cannot put them formally down on the Paper because they have not passed Committee.
§ * THE MARQUESS OF LANSDOWNEI think we ought to have time to consider the statement which the noble Marquess has just made. I should be disposed to say at once that while we who sit here would be glad to facilitate the transaction of business by a special sitting on Friday, our feeling with regard to proposals of that kind must depend a good deal upon the prospects of getting through, before the Christmas holidays, the great mass of business which His Majesty's Government have brought forward in this House. If there is no prospect of getting through 1520 it before the Christmas holidays, then there would seem to be not much object in a special sitting.
§ * THE MARQUESS OF RIPONI shall make that motion on Thursday— or earlier if noble Lords prefer that I should do so—and then your Lordships will be able to say what your feelings are concerning it.