Kt. Hon. Sir ROBERT BORDEN:

The reason I had reached the conclusion which I have just stated to the House was that a great many hon. members, particularly those from the West, had expressed to me their intense desire that the work of the House should be proceeded with as rapidly as possible. Some hon. gentlemen have been urging me recently even to sit in the forenoons and on Saturdays, and I thought that in line with that strongly expressed desire we perhaps would he sufficiently honouring this highly important anniversary if we proceeded with our usual work on that day. If, however, it is the desire of the majority of hon. members that we should not sit on Monday, I can only say that I am just as ready as any one else tn take a holiday and will offer no personal objection.

Hon. MEMBERS:

Hear, hear.

Sir ROBERT BORDEN:

At all events, I am prepared to leave the matter to the judgment of the House.

Mr. BELAND:

Question.

Hon. W. F. FIELDING:

I think that the 24th of May is an almost ancient holiday with us. Those of us who are no longer young will remember the 24th of May as a great holiday of the year, and I certainly trust that we are still going to have duly observed the Queen's birthday, as the day is known to us.

Hear, hear.

Rt. Hon. Sir GEORGE FOSTER:

Since my hon. friend (Mr. Fielding) appeals on the ground of age I am afraid I will have to back him up.

Mr. BUREAU:

Hear, hear, and we stand by you.

Sir ROBERT BORDEN:

In view of the opinion expressed toy these hon. gentlemen, who have had a much longer experience than I in public life, I will move:

That when this House adjourns on Friday, the 21st, it stands adjourned until the Tuesday following at Three o'clock.

Mr. SPEAKER:

I -would point out that in the absence of the customary notice, this motion requires the unanimous consent of the House.

Carried.

No.

Mr. SPEAKER:

I hear a "No." That

being the case, notice of motion will have to toe given. Do I understand that any hon, gentleman objects to the motion?

Mr. GAUVREAU:

Yes, I object to it.

Mr. MACKIE (Edmonton):

I desire to

protest against any protracted holiday. On Friday afternoon every week the House is left empty by members from Quebec and Ontario who go to their homes.

Order.

Mr. MACKIE (Edmonton):

The session

has been taken up largely with the useless discussion of unimportant matters. There are a number of us who are anxious to get back to our homes and who desire to proceed with the business as fast as possible.

Mr. HOCKEN:

I would suggest that we meet on Saturday and take a holiday on Monday. I entirely agree with the hon. member for Shelburne and Queen's (Mr. Fielding) that as this is a traditional holiday in the Dominion of Canada it ought to be observed by Parliament as an example to the rest of the country. It seems to me that we have -wasted too many days upon which we might have worked, and it would toe better, if we cannot afford to take Monday, to sit on Saturday and make up for it.

Mr. SPEAKER:

I must again point out that unless objection is withdrawn the motion cannot toe put to the House. In the absence of notice unanimous consent is required.

Mr. MACKIE (Edmonton):

I do not care to be the solitary voice in protest against this proposed holiday. If this holiday is going to be taken I will withdraw my protest, but I would like to see the House sit on Saturday and let us get ahead -with the business.