May I intervene for a moment to move that the House sit later than 8.30 p.m. for consideration of the Intoxicating Liquor Bill.
LATE SITTING.
How long do you propose the House should sit?
Until 10.30, with an adjournment at 7 o'clock or 7.30.
The adjournment should be when this item is concluded.
This proposition is sprung on the House without any notice whatsoever. There are many Deputies who are not present in the Chamber at the moment and in order to have an expression of opinion as to whether the matter is of sufficient urgency to warrant a late sitting and in order that Deputies may be aware that such a motion is before the House. I will challenge a division.
I move the motion under Standing Order 16.
Is there not a rule that such a motion should be moved at Question time?
The motion may be made at any time before 6 o'clock—
Before 6.30.
But I think it would be very much fairer to Deputies if the motion were made at Question Time, because Deputies may have other engagements and may not realise that they will have to be here late. Personally, I make a practice of not making appointments these evenings at all. It would be very much wiser if the Government did make a rule to bring these motions on at Question Time. I think Deputy Milroy is right in drawing attention to this matter, and I will vote with him.
How do we know what progress will be made, and how do we know whether a late sitting will be necessary? It is quite reasonable to accept notice coming near the time when it becomes necessary.
It is open to the Minister to move the motion any time before 6.30. Of course, if a division is challenged, we will have to take a vote.
Is there to be any opportunity to discuss this motion?
We cannot shut off discussion on it either.
I desire to say that I am going to vote for the motion. This Bill has been on the Order Paper now for quite a long time, and the Minister for Justice has, in this case, been very considerate and very patient and much less ruthless than usual. I think, if only for the sake of knowing where we stand on the Bill, we should enable it to come under discussion. I would ask the House to agree, because it will simply mean that we shall have to meet late frequently on succeeding days, and as we have more or less got acclimatised to 10.30, with three-quarters of an hour for adjournment, it is really pleasanter than to be looking forward, wondering what day the Bill is coming on.
I am not insensible to Deputy Johnson's appeal, but I think when there were six Bills down for Second Reading it might be anticipated that we would have to sit late if we were to dispose of the business. I am very much opposed to Estimates coming on at a late hour. I would like to ask does the Minister propose to take Estimates, assuming that the other business is finished, or would he be willing to adjourn, for instance, after the Local Elections Bill?
I asked for the extension of time only for consideration of the Intoxicating Liquor Bill.
I would like to make it clear that my object in opposing this motion is because I think the House is not being fairly treated. We know that we have not now a full attendance of members. Many Deputies are attending to correspondence outside, and I think there is no party here so much taken at a disadvantage as the Government Party, unless it be the Labour Party.
Or Mr. Milroy's party.
My party, sir, is here in full strength, and is always here when wanted. My point is that the attention of Deputies present in the building should be drawn to the fact that such a motion is before the House. I will challenge a division in order to have their attention drawn to the fact.
I hope there will not be a division in this matter. This Bill has been on the Order paper for I do not know how many days, and people interested, besides Deputies, have come here, time and again, expecting that this debate would be on. I think it is quite unfair that this matter should not be discussed, and that these people should have to come here repeatedly while Deputies are attending to something else. It is quite unfair that this matter should not be finally dealt with.
Question put: "That the House sits later than 8.30 to consider the Intoxicating Liquor Bill."
Motion declared carried.