VOTES ON ACCOUNT. (Hansard, 25 June 1875)

MR. GOLDSMID
complained that such large sums should for the second time this Session be taken on account. He objected to the system, which he considered was destructive to Parliamentary control, and was surprised that the Government should adopt it after the views they had expressed whilst in Opposition. They had really gone beyond their Predecessors in the matter of Votes on Account, for they came down now at the very end of the month of June to ask for a second Vote on Account of more than £1,000,000, which would carry them on to the end of July. He wished to hear something from the Secretary to the Treasury on the subject, so that the House might know what to expect for the future.

§ MR. W. H. SMITH
quite agreed that the practice of asking for second Votes on Account was exceedingly undesirable, and one which every Government ought to avoid; and he admitted that he had with his hon. Friends opposed the late Government in this practice. But the Government were not now asking for anything more than their Predecessors asked during all but the last Session of the last Parliament; and the Vote now proposed was only for the month now drawing to a close. Whilst regretting very much that the state of Parliamentary Business this Session had delayed Supply, he trusted that the assurances which had been given by the Prime Minister would satisfy the House that there was no intention on the part of the Government to withdraw from the House any part of its control over the expenditure. He would endeavour to remedy the objectionable state of things for the future.

MR. GOLDSMID
said, that, after the fair and candid statement they had just heard, he would not offer any further objection to the Vote.

	£
Post office Packet Service	80,000
Post Office Telegraphs	180,000
	£260,000