I also wish to announce that it is the intention of the Government to ask the House to sit on Tuesday next week.
Sittings of the House.
When will that fall for decision?
Now is the time.
Will the Vice-President make a motion?
I formally move that the House sit on Tuesday next and on each succeeding Tuesday. I do not know whether the latter part of the motion is in order or not. It is probable that we will meet every Tuesday from now on until the House adjourns for the Summer Recess—that is to say, to sit four days a week.
It is in order to move now that the House sit on Tuesday next, but notice of motion is required—four days' notice—with regard to the intention to sit on every Tuesday from now until the Summer Recess.
Then I simply move: That the House sit on Tuesday of next week.
Are we to understand that the House then is to sit on next Tuesday at 3 until when?
The usual hour.
What is the usual hour to sit to on a Tuesday?
To 10.30.
That is not the usual hour.
It is the usual hour that the House sits to.
It is not.
The proposal is that the House sit on Tuesday next from 3 until 9.0 p.m.
That has not been moved.
If the Deputy listened and gave more attention he would know.
That was not moved. We are to meet on Tuesday until some hour not yet stated, and to sit on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at the usual hours, with no statement made as to whether there will be any private members' time on any of these days next week.
The motion is that the House should sit on Tuesday next. It can be decided, if and when the House meets on that day, at what hour the adjournment will be taken.
That is better.
I think the Vice-President ought to consider the question of private members' time if we are to sit four days a week. It has been usual at this period of the year to give very little time for private members' business, but that has only been in force since the House decided on sitting three days a week. Prior to 1927 the House used to meet four days a week. If the House is to meet four days a week I think the Government ought to consider giving perhaps one day a week to private members' time.
I think what the Deputy says is reasonable. As I have not had an opportunity of having any consultations on this I cannot make any promise, but I will put the matter before the Executive Council.
Agreed: That the House sit on Tuesday next.