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Tuer have hoon troublous times in Parlisment of late, as might be expected with two such important though contentious measures as the Education Bill and the Irish Land Bill that were introduced by the Government, to say nothing of the uphill fight that was before the Chancel r of the Exchequer when introducing his Budget. Then the new Rules of Procedure could not but be provocative of much opposition from certain factions in the fouse, though the large majority that the Government command and the general desire for some reformation of the existing rules is felt very keenly by the members who desire that the work of the country should progress more rapidly than it does at present. The Licensing Bill and the London Water Bill are also measures that find determined opponents, or faddists who care for nothing but to carry their own sular views at the expense of the country, and in defiance of the requirements of the majority of the people. asthe "Westminster Gazette" says, 'Even a braver Government than this' one has the reputation of being might be dismayed at the work which is accumulating in Parliament this Session. We are now entering upon the second stage of the Session, the stage in which this year solid work must be done, if ever. For after Whitsuntide there will be the holiday of the Coronation, which, we may be sure, will have an influence in excess of the week or ten days' recess (0 which legislators will be justly entitled."
The same paper, in continuing on this subject, says:—Erery Government, of course, tries to do too much, and every Government remains sanguine up to Whitsuntide that it will be able to achieve the impossible. Then comes a wholesale slaughter of innocents, accompanied by loud plaints that the wickedness of an obstructive and unscrupulous Opposition has compelled the Government to sacrifice its most cherished designs. The slate is never clean, and no amount of experience will ever teach a Sovernment the wisdom of "concentra-tien and selection." But the present Gor ernment's slate is, indeed, at this moment a most unusually dirty one. Three wacks age we were all speculating how much or how little of the programme thus far revealed could possibly be accomplished before the prorogation. Then on top of it all came this Education Bill, which, whether good or bad, is at least the most far-reaching change since the Act of 1870.
We are now told that it is to be forced through by closure and guillotine and any other strong measures that "obstruction may compel the Government to adopt." We believe this to be impossible, or, possible, most unfair and undesirable in The interests of education. Good or bad, the Bill demands the full 2 fullest and mos searching discussion. It is a step which.
when taken, em not be retraced, and whic is fraught with immense consequences in the fature. The Government, therefore, will have, we believe, to make their choice quickly—ither to drop this Bill (or a large.rt of it) or to clean their: slate of all other important measures.
We have learned by telegram, however, that this Bill has passed the second reading.
The New Rules of Procedure were introduced again on the 8th April after a layse of several weeks, when Mr. Balfour proposed a number of changes in the regulations for putting questions to Mi isters in the House. Concerning this the "Times" says The proposal is that Government business shall have precedence throughout the Session at every sitting except the evening sittings on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, an at the sitting on Friday, that after Easter it shall have precedence at the evening sittings on Tuesdays, and after Whitsuntide at all evening sittings as well as on Fridays, except on two dates specially set aside. Practically this arrangement corresponds with the regular usage of Parliament in recent years. It is distine'ly, we should say, an advantage that the appropriation of time for Government, business should be carried out automatically and not after a dilatory and futile discussion, of which the issue is in every case predetermined. Mr. Galloway's amendment. proposing to allocate the evening sittings on Thursdays to private members' Bills and motions and to leave the Government. the responsibility of keeping a House—whether for Supply or other Ministerial business—on Fridays received a good deal of support from the Unionist side, and was rejected, ina thin House, by a tnjority of only. 174 against 145. Mr. Coningsby Disraeli denounced the "callous indifference" of the First Lord of the Treasury towards private members, and protested againsttheabandonment of the ancient and constitutional way" of getting precedence for Government business by a debate, a division, and a majority. Mr, Chaplin, who is now the great exemplar of Parliamentary indepenence, as Mr. James Lowther used to be, lent his authority to this puerile criticism. It is to be regretted that Mr. Disraeli's amendment was not defeated by more than 182 votes against 130. Another amendment, moved by Mr, Gibson Bowles, which aimed at withdrawing the facilities for the advancement of Government business after Whitsuntide, was rejected by onder, howerer, has not yeh bean accepted 170 votes against 118. "The new standing; asa whole, and some time may have to be spent before the House goes on to deal with the other rules, including the very Important business "thet as been. paste pened in regard to order in debate and to the regulation of questions.
The "Standard" characterises Mr. Balfour's proposals as the " weakest part of the Ministerial Scheme," for the original proposal had not commended itself to members, and the alteration now submitted found many objectors, Even the "Standard" cannot recommend it, and says Question time would have lost most of its value asa Parlinmentary institution if it had been broken up into fragments the most important of which would have been at the fag end of the afternoon sitting. But though Ministers have deferred with good grave to the manifest sense of the House, they have not been happy in the alternative course which they now recommend. In its altered form, the plan provides that only those Questions which have been asterisked by the member who places them gri the Paper shall be orally answered, that these shall be dealt with between a quarter-past two and five minutes to three, and that public business shall begin three o'clock. The five minutes' interval is to be dedicated to inquiries of an urgent character, such as might properly be put without notice. All who are concerned for the efficiency of the House of Commons will associate themselves with the two main principles laid down by Mr. Batrour. There has been
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.