MR. KINGLAKEsaid, he wished to ask when the Report of the Dockyard Commission, which he understood contained some statements of a startling character with respect to management of the Dockyards, would be laid on the table of the House.
§ SIR FRANCIS BARINGremarked, that there was a Vote in the Navy Estimates for the new Dovor contract; and if that were voted to-night the House would he affirming the contract. He apprehended that the House would much prefer waiting to have the Report of the Contracts Commission before they gave such affirmation. He brought the subject last night before the consideration of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who told him that it should be considered by the Admiralty; and he hoped now to hear from the noble Lord in his reply to the question of the hon. and learned Gentleman that the Vote would not be called for till the Contract Commission should have reported on that particular contract.
§ LORD CLARENCE PAGETsaid, that in answer to the question of the hon. and learned Member for Bridgewater, he had to state that the Dockyard Commission had reported, and that their Report had been printed; but it was now before the Commission for correction. Before it was presented to the House it would be laid before the Board of Admiralty, and it would be for them to lay it on the table of the House of Commons. Previously, however, to this being done, he thought it likely that the Board of Admiralty would be desirous of receiving some communication from the Surveyor of the Navy, which he understood the Surveyor was desirous of making on the Report. As soon as these matters had been attended to, he believed the Report would be laid on the table of the House. With regard to the question of the right hon. Member for Portsmouth, relative to the packet vote, he thought it unlikely that it would come on to-night for discussion; but if it was the wish of the House that that vote should be postponed, Her Majesty's Government would not object.
§ SIR JOHN PAKINGTONsaid, he was 900 fearful, from what the House had just heard, that a considerable delay would take place before the Report of the Dockyard Commission was in the hands of hon. Members. It was one of those Reports which he alluded to in the early part of the Session, and which he had promised to lay on the table as early as possible. Other Reports which he had promised had not been delayed; and he much regretted the unforeseen delay which had occurred in the preparation of this Report, on the very important subject of the expenditure of large sums of money in labour in our Dockyards. The first part of the answer he did not clearly understand. He thought the noble Lord had said that the Commission had reported, that the Report had been referred to the Admiralty, and that the Admiralty had referred it to their Surveyor. He was afraid, then, he must infer that a considerable delay would take place, but he hoped no unnecessary delay would occur before the papers reached the table of the House.
§ Motion agreed to.