§ THE EARL OF BALFOURMy Lords, in moving that this House do now adjourn I ought to add that I think we must meet at a quarter past three o'clock on Monday. Evidently there is a good deal of discussion before us, and I think we ought to meet an hour earlier than has been customary in order to get through our business.
§ EARL BEAUCHAMPMy Lords, this is the first that I have heard of this proposal, and I have not been able to communicate in the usual way with the noble Earl. Will he allow me to point out that Monday is the Bank Holiday, and that it is very inconvenient to be here at an earlier hour? Many trains are not running on that day, and I am sure that the earlier hour will be very inconvenient to a large number of members of your Lordships' House.
§ THE EARL OF BALFOURIf there really is a strong objection, I do not in the least wish to press my suggestion, but the noble Earl, Lord Beauchamp, will see that we are in a difficulty. We must get through the Amendments to the Mining Industry Bill, and I was not sure, after the debate this afternoon, whether the discussion of those Amendments could be got through quickly. There were signs of an opposite kind. It would be extremely inconvenient, I think, if we carried on the discussion far beyond our ordinary hour for separating or if we met after dinner on Monday, and I am afraid that it would upset all the arrangements with regard to the adjournment of the two Houses of Parliament if we did not get through the Committee stage on Monday evening. 397 That is the only reason why I made this suggestion.
§ EARL BEAUCHAMPI will not press my objection, but I must say that I do not feel the same objection to sitting late at night that seems to be so common to your Lordships' House at the present time.
§ Moved, That the House do now adjourn till Monday next a quarter past three o'clock.—(The Earl of Balfour.)
§ On Question, Motion agreed to, and ordered accordingly.
§ House adjourned at twenty-five minutes past seven o'clock.