HC Deb 05 June 1861 vol 163 cc622-3

House in Committee.

Mr. MASSEY in the Chair.

(In the Committee.)

Question, again proposed, That a sum, not exceeding £469,835, be granted to Her Majesty, to defray the Charge of New Works, Improvements, and Repairs in the Naval Establishments, which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1862.

SIR FREDERIC SMITH

said, he had given notice of his intention to move that the Vote be reduced by the sum of £3,225, proposed for additional accommodation for spinning machinery at Chatham; but it depended upon the explanation which the noble Lord the Secretary to the Admiralty gave on the subject whether he would persevere with the Motion.

MR. WHITBREAD

hoped the hon, and gallant Gentleman would not persist in his Motion, as the question of the enlargement of Chatham Dockyard was to be referred to a Select Committee.

MR. HENLEY

said, that the noble Lord (Lord C. Paget) stated the other night that the Vote for the extension of works at Chatham pledged the Government to an ultimate outlay of £1,000,000. A Vote of so much importance ought not, therefore, to be taken so late in the afternoon; and moreover, if the whole question was to be considered by a Committee the decision of that Committee ought not to be anticipated.

LORD CLARENCE PAGET

said, that it was in the opinion of the Government very advantageous that the extensions at Chatham should be referred to a Committee upstairs; and the particular Vote to which the right hon. Gentleman referred would be conditional on the report of the Committee.

MR. HENLEY

could not see how, if the money were given hard and fast, it could be conditional on the Report of the Committee. It would be better to move for the money in a Supplementary Estimate if the Committee reported in favour of Chatham.

MR. WHITBREAD

said, that the Vote now asked was in continuation of Votes granted for several years, in order to continue the great work of (ho embankment of St. Mary's Island.

MR. HENNESSY

moved that the Chairman Report Progress.

MR. HENLEY

suggested that the Vote should be struck out.

VISCOUNT PALMERSTON

said, that the extension of works at Chatham would be referred to a Committee. This was a Vote entirely independent of that question.

House resumed; Committee report Progress: to sit again To-morrow.

House adjourned at Ten minutes before Six o'clock.