It is proposed to take No. 2 on the Order Paper. There will be an interruption for an hour, from 6 o'clock to 7 o'clock, to discuss No. 5, that is the Labourers Bill. I understand it has been agreed to sit until 10.30 to-night and for the other sittings of this week.
Order of Business.
Towards 1 o'clock to-day, I got notice of the Government's desire to sit until 10.30 p.m. I have no objection to it.
I do not think there is any general objection, but is the Minister satisfied that it is really necessary? We have got over a lot of amendments which were pretty debatable, and the other amendments are not all of a similar character. Is there any real need to sit later than 9 o'clock?
It is desired to get the Committee Stage of the Transport Bill concluded, if possible this week.
I should think that will happen if we sit only until 9 o'clock. Has the Minister any grounds for believing it will not happen?
There are more than 100 amendments still to be dealt with.
They hang pretty well together, and are less controversial, I think, than the ones we have discussed. Perhaps the Minister would leave the matter over until to-morrow in order to see how we are getting along?
I am quite agreeable, if the Deputy thinks there is a likelihood of getting the Committee Stage finished. The House will realise the importance of getting the Committee Stage through. I do not desire to force the House in any way in the matter, but it is very important to get that Stage finished this week. We will sit to-night only until 9 o'clock if the House desires?
And, if we do not seem to be making sufficiently rapid progress, we can sit to-morrow and for the rest of the week until 10.30 p.m.
Very well. That is agreed.