§ MR. CHANNING (Northampton, E.)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether the Government propose to move the appointment of a Select Committee to inquire into the subject of overtime worked by railway servants?
§ SIR M. HICKS BEACHWhen I made a proposal on this subject on Friday evening I did not make it merely with the object of defeating the Motion, but because Her Majesty's Government believed it to be the best and most practicable way of dealing with this most important question. I hope that from the fact that this question is asked from the other side of the House, it may be assumed that the appointment of the Committee would meet with the almost unanimous assent of the House, and that, therefore, such a Committee may be appointed without further debate. That being so, I propose to put a Motion on the Paper to-morrow on the subject.
§ SIR W. HARCOURTMay I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman will put down his Motion for the Committee 1024 at such a time as will render it possible to make some observations upon the appointment of the Committee and the character of the reference to it?
§ SIR M. HICKS BEACHI am afraid I cannot hold out any hopes that the Motion will be put down in such a position as to interfere with the progress of any other business. Perhaps it might suit to put it down for tomorrow week, on the chance of there being some time on that evening. I rather hoped that, having regard to the discussion on Friday evening, the Government would be allowed to appoint the Committee without further delay.
§ SIR W. HARCOURTWill it not be better for Her Majesty's Government to proceed by a Bill on their own responsibility?
§ SIR M. HICKS BEACHI understood that was the point which was decided on Friday.