HC Deb 23 February 1886 vol 302 cc1037-8
MR. CONYBEARE

asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether a Return might be laid before the House showing the places where harbours of refuge have been either commenced or completed by private enterprise since the Report of the Committee in the year 1859 recommending the outlay of £400,000 on such National works; and, whether such Return can be presented to the House before the Motion of which the honourable Member for East Leeds has given notice on the same subject comes on?

THE FIRST LORD (Mr. W. E. GLADSTONE)

If the hon. Member will have the goodness to refer to the last Report which has been laid upon the Table of this House, in the year 1883, on the Motion of a right hon. Friend of mine who now holds Office under the Crown, he will find sufficient for his purpose. If it is not, and he will give information to the President of the Board of Trade, we shall see what can be done as to giving further information.

COLONEL NOLAN

asked the Comptroller of the Household, Whether his acceptance of Office precluded him from bringing on the Notice of Motion which stood upon the Paper in his name with reference to harbours of refuge?

THE COMPTROLLER (Mr. MARJORIBANKS),

in reply, said, he was afraid that the Resolution which stood in his name on harbour accommodation, and which he had proposed before he became Comptroller of the Household to submit to the House, was hardly of such a nature that he could hope the Government would accept it. Therefore, his hon. and gallant Friend would readily understand, that he did not wish to set an example of insubordination, and to appear as a Teller on the opposite side to his hon. Colleague the Secretary to the Treasury. If, however, the predictions of hon. Gentlemen opposite were correct as to his probable tenure of Office, his hands would shortly be free again, and he would then take the earliest opportunity of submitting the Resolution. He could only say that he would lose no opportunity in his power of pressing a subject which had been, and still was, of the deepest interest to him.