We propose to take the items of business on the agenda with the exception of Item No. 7 (Finance Bill, 1931). I propose in connection with Item No. 5—The Local Government Bill, 1931, Second Stage —that that business should be concluded to-night. That would mean that the question should be put from the Chair at about ten minutes past ten. I propose to give an hour and a half to-morrow evening for Private Deputies' time. I propose therefore Government Business be not interrupted at 9 o'clock for Private Deputies' Business.
Public Business.
It is proposed to take Private Deputies business to-morrow and to-day to take the business on the Order Paper with the exception of Item No. 7.
Ordered accordingly.
What exactly did the President say about Item No. 5?
That it was to be concluded at about ten minutes past ten to-night.
What time is it supposed to start?
At a comparatively early stage of our proceedings to-day.
May I state with all respect that it is our desire to hear what the President has to say but it is very difficult. We have been trying to hear him and we never can get to know what he says until it is repeated by the Chair.
May I ask would the President give his reasons for deciding to conclude the debate on the Local Government Bill to-day?
We require the Bill to be passed this week.
Well, it does not necessarily follow that the Second Stage be concluded to-day.
We want to get the Committee Stage this week.
The Committee Stage. That could be done even by leaving the debate on Second Reading open to-night. I have no means of knowing whether the debate is likely to be a prolonged one or not, but it is a very important measure, as the President is aware. I think it gives a bad impression when an important matter of this kind is before the House that the first thing the President announces is that the discussion on it is to be restricted.
The Deputy's Whip might have told him that there was an understanding that the matter was to be dealt with this week.
I think there was an endeavour to come to an understanding on the condition that a certain amendment of Deputy Ruttledge's would be allowed upon the Order Paper. I understand that the arrangement suggesting that the Bill should get through its major stages this week was conditional upon this amendment appearing on the Paper.
I have not objected to it.
I do not think the President has objected, but there was an amendment suggested by Deputy Ruttledge to be put on the Paper, and I understand, from what I heard, that if that amendment were to appear on the Order Paper there would be no opposition to the discussion on the major portions of the Bill being finished this week. That amendment does not appear on the Order Paper to-day for reasons of which I have no knowledge.
What did the Deputy mean by saying "if the amendment were accepted"? Does he mean accepted by the Chair?
I think so. I understood that the Chair was party to the agreement.
The Chair has not ruled any amendment out of order.
I am afraid that Deputy O'Kelly is under a misapprehension. The position that arose was that an amendment similar to that put in by Deputy Davis was put in by me, but you were of opinion that if that amendment were moved it would preclude me from moving the motion in my name later on.
I did not rule out the amendment.
I understand that.
Private Deputies' time will be taken to-morrow evening.
May I ask the President to say, when the discussion on the Estimates is resumed, whether it is intended to take them in the order in which they appear on the Agenda?
The Minister for External Affairs was absent when the list was completed, and he has been pressing for an early consideration of his Estimate. Other than that alteration, I do not propose to make any change in the order.
I asked leave to introduce a Bill on the last day. The Bill is of great importance and urgency, seeing that under the last Land Act——
The Deputy cannot go into the question of the Bill. I understand he is putting a point of order.
I want to know whether we will get an opportunity before the Recess of getting that Bill discussed.
We will take Private Members' time to-morrow evening, and, if we conclude No. 15 on the Order Paper, the Deputy's Bill is the next after that.
The trouble is that under the last Land Act——
The Deputy asked when his Bill will come on. It will come on after No. 15 on the Order Paper. That is, provided that it comes on before the 24th June—namely, next Wednesday.