hon. Gentlemen opposite chose to take was desirable to get the Naval Works on Thursday night with regard to the Bill through, as it was, what other course Naval Works Bill, it was not action that could we have pursued? ["Hear, was approved of on the Front Bench hear!"] If we had put it down second opposite. The late Financial Secretary on Thursday last, I ask, should we have to the Admiralty himself expressed his got it through that night at all? We regret at the necessity under which some should have been obliged to let the holiof his Friends found themselves of dis- days go by without that Measure reachcussing and rediscussing not the novel ing a Third Reading. It is not absoparts of the Bill, but those parts of it lutely necessary, but it is extremely conwhich had already been adequately dealt venient, from a financial point of view, with in a previous Session. ["Hear, that that Bill should be passed. The hear!"] We could not foresee that House of Lords is going to meet todiscussion, and if the right hon. Gentle-morrow for the purpose of passing it and man could not sufficiently control his making it law as soon as possible, and in friends, that was not our fault. these circumstances, if that proposition *SIR W. HARCOURT: It was not be granted, I do not believe any ingeMy hon. Friend near me tells me nuity will show that we could have better there was more discussion on the other distributed Parliamentary time than by side of the House than on this. [Cheers.] the plan we have actually adopted. THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREA-["Hear, hear!"] I am aware it is SURY: That is a question which is seldom the good fortune of the Leader of very easily answered by a reference to the House to please the Leader of the the Debates. If the right hon. Gentle- Opposition in the management of busiThe right hon. Gentleman oppo

So.

man will refer to the Debate he will

see

ness.

that the lengthened discussion which site never succeeded in pleasing metook place on the old parts of the Bill [laughter and I do not anticipate that came from his side of the House, and that the discussion on this side was in the main, though not entirely, on the new parts. ["Hear, hear!"]

shall ever succeed in pleasing him. Laughter.] I greatly regret it, for there is no man whose good opinion I would rather have, and there is no man MR. EDMUND ROBERTSON (Dun- mons makes him a more competent critic whose knowledge of the House of Comdee) I sat through the whole of the of those who are endeavouring to follow Debate, and there was only one Amend him in the office which he filled with so ment moved by Members of the Liberal much distinction. [Cheers.] But when Party sitting on this side of the House. I try to sum up the errors which the Most of the discussion came from Mem- Government are alleged to have combers on the other side of the House. We mitted in the conduct of business during made a protest that the discussion was the last fortnight, I cannot see that it confined to the old part of the Bill, and comes to more than this-that hon. that a discussion of the new parts was Gentlemen will have to choose between prevented. ["Hear, hear!" the pleasure of listening to my right hon. Friend introducing the Education Bill and the pleasure of going a few hours earlier to their respective homes. [Laughter.] It may be a painful choice

THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY: I think the hon. Gentleman is wrong, and that his memory deceives him. There may possibly have been only one Amendment moved from that side of the House-though I am amazed at the number of Divisions that took place-but I think that if the hon. Gentleman will recall to his memory the agreeable recollection associated with the eloquence of the hon. Member for one of the Divisions of Lanarkshire-[laughter] -and some others he will see that I have not greatly exaggerated, if at all, what took place on Thursday last. ["Hear, hear!"] But, after all, if it

[laughter]—and I regret that I should have been instrumental in compelling hon. Gentlemen to make it; but I hope they will believe me that, however unsuccessful my efforts may be to meet the convenience of all parties, I did my best, consistently with trying to get through what is the duty of the Government to ask the House of Commons to get through. [Cheers.]

MR. H. C. F. LUTTRELL (Devon, Tavistock) asked whether the House

would adjourn to-morrow immediately without knowing something of the reaafter the discussion on the Education sons why it was sent; and with that Bill. view his object was to call the attention

THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREA- of the House to the very contradictory SURY

Yes.

statements made by Her Majesty's Ministers with regard to it.

case.

*MR. SPEAKER: I do not think that improves the hon. Member's [Laughter.] I think the hon. Member is out of order in entering upon this question on this Motion.

rule

[Laughter.]

MR. HENRY LABOUCHERE (Northampton) said, he had no doubt that the conduct of all Governments with regard to public business was bad [laughter]-but he was quite ready to admit that the conduct of the present Government was exceptionally bad. He MR. LABOUCHERE: Well, Sir, was afraid that that evening would be how far might I go? [Laughter.] one of those uncomfortable and unplea- *MR. SPEAKER: I can only call the sant drizzles-[laughter]—of which the hon. Gentleman to order if he trans-, right hon. Gentleman spoke. He could gresses. I cannot lay down for him a only thank the right hon. Gentleman as to how far he may go. for his courtesy in calling it drizzle and not dribble. Laughter.] He was sur- MR. LABOUCHERE said, it was his CHER prised to hear the right hon. Gentleman anxious desire to enable hon. Gentlemen say that there was nothing that would opposite to get to bed at an early hour, come between the House and the Motion but he was afraid he should have to rethat the Speaker do now leave the Chair. sume this matter on the Report stage of The right hon. Gentleman himself was the Vote on Account. At the same a Member of the Fourth Party in 1880. time he would say that, as they had not He remembered the exploits of that yet had a clear and definite explanation Party. Never was a Motion made such from Her Majesty's Government, but as the right hon. Gentleman had made only contradictory statements, with that evening, that the House should regard to this matter, he did object adjourn for a holiday, without the Fourth to the adjournment of the House until Party bounding to its feet and discussing some such explanation was given. everything. [Laughter.] He had observed that hon. Gentlemen opposite particularly disliked being kept in the House till the early hours of the morning. He had a Motion on the Paper to reduce the salary of Lord Salisbury on the Report of the Vote on Account, that would probably come on about 3 o'clock in the morning, and he was sure that hon. Gentlemen opposite would say that he was consulting their convenience if he raised the matter at the present time instead. He did not think they ought to adjourn the House without knowing more about the condition of the Soudan. The explanations given up to the present were contradictory and unsatisfactory.

*MR. SPEAKER: The hon. Member will not be in order on this Motion in entering into the affairs of the Soudan. They must be discussed on the Vote on Account, which is an Order of the day. MR. LABOUCHERE said, he found it impossible to agree that the House should adjourn, not on account of the erroneous policy of this expedition, but Mr. H. C. F. Luttrell.

as an

He, therefore, begged to move Amendment to the Resolution, that after the word "o'clock," the subsequent words, "and at its rising do adjourn till Thursday, the 9th of April," should be left out.

SIR E. ASHMEAD - BARTLETT (Sheffield, Ecclesall) desired to ask a question on the point of order which had been raised. It had always been the practice of the House hitherto to allow considerable discussion on. the Motion for the Adjournment of the House for a period of time. ["Hear, hear!"] He desired to know from the Speaker whether he had decided against that practice as a general rule, or whether he only ruled it out of order on this occasion because there was a subject of discussion-namely, the Vote on Account, subsequent to this, on which the question the hon. Member for Northampton wished to discuss could possibly be raised?

*MR. SPEAKER: I ruled the hon. Member out of order because the matter which he proposed to Debate was one

which could be debated on the Vote on Account, and it has been ruled before in this House that where the Vote on Account is down for Debate an hon. Member cannot introduce, on a Motion as to Adjournment, a subject which it is open to him to Debate on the Vote on Account immediately afterwards.

*SIR W. HARCOURT: Before the House divides on the Motion we ought clearly to understand the situation. [Cheers.] There is no doubt whatever, I think, that in the former practice of the House the Motion for Adjournment for a Recess, was one upon which all questions were discussed, and especially questions of important foreign or colonial affairs which might cause anxiety during the period of the Recess. That was the special object why, upon the Motion for the Adjournment, these questions were brought up, so that the House and the country might have information which would justify them in giving a Recess of greater or less length. ["Hear, hear!"] If it is impossible upon this Motion to obtain information in the critical position of foreign affairs, and the extremely critical position of colonial affairs, as to what the situation is either in Egypt or Matabeleland, then I shall certainly vote for a very short Recess. If the House of Commons is disabled from obtaining from the Government full information, such as we ought to have upon this subject, then I really do not think we ought to adjourn for ten days; therefore, I should support any Motion which shortened the Recess in order that the House or Commons might be present to receive any information which it is not now in a position to obtain. [" Hear, hear!"]

pute the Speaker's ruling, as there could be no doubt of the impropriety of discussing on the Motion for the Adjournment matters which might arise on the Vote on Account. But in this particular case he would point out that the fact that the Government had put down the Vote on Account when the Adjournment was to be moved practically cut the House off from everything. The Vote on Account contained everything except the Army and Navy, and, therefore, they were debarred from having the usual explanations of Ministers on matters of high import concerning the foreign policy of the Government, and of their intentions with regard to their acts during the Recess. That was the practical effect of putting down the Vote on Account for the same day as that upon which the Motion for the holidays was to be moved. He hoped it would be a warning to the Government in future to abstain from, and for the Opposition to resist the putting down of such a Vote upon such an occasion. In regard to the Education Bill he thought it was a proper thing to introduce it under these circumstances. In the first place there would be a select audience of those interested in that Bill, and in the second place, after having heard the speech of the Minister who introduced the Measure, instead of getting up and replying offhand, with unconsidered arguments, hon. Members would go away and be able to reflect upon it, during the holidays, at their leisure. But what he wished to say was that he had seen no reason at all why the Government should insist upon moving the Speaker from the Chair before Easter. He thought the Government had already sacrificed too much to MR. T. P. O'CONNOR (Liverpool, Supply. In his opinion the Secretary to Scotland) suggested as a way out of the the Treasury was ruling them with a rod difficulty that the First Lord of the of iron. He would not let them introTreasury should confine his Motion to duce their Bills or explain their policy, stating that the sitting to-morrow should but insisted on having the whole time of commence at 12 o'clock; then let the the House for Supply. He would point sitting be devoted to the introduction of out to his right hon. Friend that it was the Education Bill, and at the close of not necessary to get the Speaker out of the the discussion on that Bill the Motion Chair on the Civil Service Estimates before for the Adjournment could be made, Easter, and, therefore, in the interests of upon which the House should enjoy its fine weather and fair discussion he would immemorial right of discussing the suggest that the Government should not policy of the Government. ["Hear, insist upon the Speaker leaving the Chair hear!"] to-day on the Civil Service Estimates. *MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn He attached the greatest possible imRegis) observed that no one would dis-portance to this discussion with the

with the Education Bill alone, but, in addition, shall have a long and miscellaneous discussion upon all things in heaven and earth. I hope the House will not accept the Amendment of the hon. Gentleman.

MR. W. ALLEN (Newcastle-underLyme) asked the Speaker whether he might ask the First Lord of the Treasury, on this Motion, a question as to an event which might possibly occur in

Speaker in the Chair, because it was one of our Colonial possessions-["Hear, of the last opportunities left to hon. hear!"]-and under these circumstances Members to discuss high general ques- I really think that that particular reason tions of policy involved in the Estimates. for the Amendment is one that cannot On the Estimates themselves in Com- be sustained. With regard to the mittee they could only discuss little Amendment, I would only remind the details, to which they were confined House that it is one against the holiwith the utmost strictness. The three days, and the House of Commons is very discussions on the three occasions of the much changed if it supports a proposal Speaker leaving the Chair on different of that character. I hope the hon. classes of Estimates were, he took it, Gentlemen opposite will go to a Division, saved by the House in order to retain as I should like to see whether the some opportunity of having a general House really desires, in the first place, discussion on high questions of policy. that to-morrow shall not be occupied He thought it would not meet the intention of the rule of the House that they should be tied down to a small fraction of a day on a discussion such as this, and he would suggest to the Secretary to the Treasury and the First Lord of the Treasury that they might, perhaps, withdraw their proposal, or, at any rate, might forego their intention of moving the Speaker out of the Chair after what must be a most inadequate discussion. THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY: The right hon. Gentleman opposite appears to think that it is very necessary to have another discussion on foreign and colonial affairs in addition to those we have recently had. I thought, especially as regards foreign affairs, that I gave the House an exceptionally favourable opportunity. But, if it is desired, and if the right hon. Gentleman thinks that colonial affairs are so pressing that something must be done to give the House an opportunity for further discussion, I will, if it is insisted upon, put down the Colonial Vote for the first day after the Recess. nothing fresh has occurred, SO far Treasury had treated this matter quite as the Government are aware, fairly. He said the Amendment was either in colonial or foreign affairs, an Amendment against the holidays. during the last week which should necessitate further discussion on the part of hon. Gentlemen opposite. There is nothing, so far as we are aware, with which the House of Commons could profitably deal at the present moment. *SIR W. HARCOURT: Matabeleland?

Absolutely

Matabeleland before the House met

again?

*MR. SPEAKER: The proper time for asking such a question will be when the Motion is made for the Adjournment of the House to-night.

MR. ALLEN, on a point of order, asked whether this was not a Motion for the Adjournment of the House.

*MR. SPEAKER:. This is a Motion that the House at its rising to-morrow do adjourn until a future day.

MR. J. C. FLYNN (Cork, N.) said, he did not think the First Lord of the

It was more

than that. It was an Amendment directed against the latter portion of the Resolution, that the House do adjourn without question put, thus abrogating a constitutional right of the House. He thought they might very well support the Amendment to leave out all the Resolution after the words 12 o'clock.

THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY No. I understand that the *MR. SPEAKER: That is not the House knows all that has taken place as Amendment of the hon. Member for well as my right hon. Friend the Northampton. The Amendment is to Colonial Secretary. There is no infor- leave out the words " and at its rising mation kept back, and there is nothing do adjourn till Thursday, the 9th of to cause us grave anxiety in that quarter April."

Mr. Gibson Bowles.

MR. FLYNN: Then I beg to move | hear!"] The Government having taken the omission of all the words after to themselves all this time from private 12 o'clock.

reason for adopting it. Although the House had been sitting only a few weeks, all the Fridays had been taken from private Members, several of the *SIR WILLIAM HARCOURT said, Tuesdays had been appropriated, and one he hardly thought it would be desirable or two Wednesdays had been trespassed to persist in this Amendment, because, upon. In addition to this there had if so, the Education Bill might not be been several Motions to suspend the Twelve o'clock Rule, and there had been one or two all-night sittings. ["Hear,