Would the President say what to-morrow's business will be?
Order of Business.
It is proposed to take the "Cuts" Bill first.
The "Cuts" Bill was circulated only this morning. We do not propose to agree to its being taken to-morrow.
The Minister for Finance is anxious to have it taken to-morrow.
If the Minister for Finance is anxious to take it to-morrow he ought to have circulated the Bill earlier. I only got the Bill this morning. At the present moment we have got two Bills in progress in one of which the Minister's opening statement is not yet concluded. We have one Estimate which is half-way through. It is a nice commentary upon the way things are done and shows the Parliamentary indigestion from which the Government is suffering.
It is necessary to have the "Cuts" Bill to-morrow.
Is the Road Transport Bill to be taken at any time to-morrow?
Yes, if we can get it through in Private Members' time.
When the President says that the "Cuts" Bill must be taken to-morrow, does that mean that he proposes to sit late?
Yes, if necessary.
Does the President propose to give Private Members' time to-morrow?
Certainly.
Is the President proposing to take all the stages to-morrow?
No.
What is the meaning of all this haste?
In order that the principle of economy be ensured and inserted on the records of this House.
That is not the point. Is the Minister rushing this Bill through because he wants it put into operation on the 1st April?
I can quite understand how the former Government might regard public economy as an April Fool joke.
In view of the fact that the terms of the measure make provision that if cuts are to be put into operation before the Bill is passed, the Bill, if passed, will legitimatise these cuts, and as the Bill is framed in that way, what is the necessity for the haste?
Because it is desirable that the principle of the Bill should have recognition before the end of this financial year.
These are Fool's Day explanations. Why was not the Bill circulated earlier?
The House adjourned at 10.40 until 10.30 a.m. on Friday, 31st March.