§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYBefore the House adjourns I should like to say that there is an important Bill which has just come down to this House, and which has been read a first time to-day, entitled the Gold Standard Bill. I understand that a noble Lord opposite desires to address you on the subject, and there are other noble Lords who no doubt wish to speak upon it. It is a Money Bill, and therefore it is not a matter upon the details of which you would wish to spend much time, but I imagine that it would be convenient to the House if it could have an opportunity of discussing the Bill on the principal stage of it, and it would seem to be convenient to put the Bill down for Monday. The Bill must be through all its stages by May 11; that is to say, it would be very inconvenient, for financial reasons, if it were delayed beyond May 11. If it would satisfy your Lordships' House to have a thorough discussion of the Bill, to the full extent that the House may desire, I would suggest that Standing Orders might be suspended and the Bill passed through all its stages on that day. That course would probably be convenient to the House.
§ LORD ARNOLDMy Lords, may I say that so far as noble Lords on this Bench are concerned, the course proposed by the noble Marquess would be perfectly agreeable. I gather, if the suggestion is agreed to in other quarters of the House, that there would be a debate on the Second Reading of the Bill, that all the stages would be taken afterwards and that the Bill would be through on Monday next.
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYThat is so. May I take it that this is the general wish of the House?
§ THE LORD CHANCELLORMy Lords, it may be convenient to your Lordships if I mention that noble Lords who are interested in the Legitimacy Bill have 80 expressed a desire to see the Bill in print, as altered on the Report Stage before it comes up for Third Reading. I propose, therefore, to take the Third Reading on Tuesday next instead of to-morrow.
§ House adjourned at ten minutes past six o'clock.