HC Deb 17 June 1879 vol 247 cc32-3
THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER

Sir, I wish to make an appeal to the hon. Member for Birkenhead (Mr. Mac Iver), who has given Notice of his intention to call the attention of the House on Friday next to the condition both of commerce and of agriculture, and to move for a Royal Commission to inquire into the subject. The hon. Member for Mid-Lincolnshire (Mr. Chaplin) has also given Notice of a similar Resolution. I would ask the hon. Member for Birkenhead whether, in these circumstances, he has any objection to postponing the Motion of which he has given Notice, seeing, as I have already privately informed him, that the state of Public Business would render it more convenient that it should not be brought on during the present week?

MR. MAC IVER

felt that it was impossible that the very important questions which his Motion would raise could be properly discussed unless they could be brought on at a time convenient both to the House and the Government; and, therefore, he had much pleasure in withdrawing his Notice, on the understanding that he should propose to move, as an Amendment to the Motion of the hon. Member for Mid-Lincolnshire, that the inquiry he suggested should be extended to both commerce and agriculture.

MR. NEWDEGATE

inquired. Whether Her Majesty's Government were prepared to give facilities to the hon. Member for Mid-Lincolnshire for bringing forward his Motion?

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER, having expressed his obligation to the hon. Member for Birkenhead for giving way, said, that while her Majesty's Government were anxious that the important subjects which the Motion of the hon. Member for Mid-Lincolnshire would raise should be fully discussed, he was unable at that moment to fix any time for bringing it on. If arranged in that way, there would be a Morning Sitting next Friday; but not on Friday, the 4th of July.