HC Deb 10 March 1862 vol 165 cc1278-80

House in Committee.

Mr. MASSEY

in the Chair.

The following Votes were then agreed to: —

  1. (1.) £24,360, Rewards for Military Service.
  2. (2.) £77,600, Pay of General Officers.
  3. (3.) £479,722, Pay of Reduced and Retired Officers.
  4. (4.) £179,876, Pensions to Widows, &c.
    5. 1279
  5. (5.) £35,633, Pensions for Wounds.
  6. (6.) £33,923, Chelsea and Kilmainham Hospitals.
  7. (7.) £1,156,380, Out-Pensioners of Chelsea Hospital, &c.
  8. (8.) £143,364, Superannuation Allowances.

LORD HOTHAM

said, he would take that opportunity of asking when the Miscellaneous Estimates would come on. The Navy Estimates had been passed in two evenings, and now the army in; Very little more. That was expedition quite unexampled in the history of Parliament. The noble Viscount at the head of the Government would remember when he was Secretary for War that the Army Estimates Occupied twenty one nights. He (Lord Hotham) would suggest; looking at what was nightly the state of the House, that the Miscellaneous Estimates might also be brought on and be disposed of with as little delay as the other two. There was a very general disposition on the part of all Members, for reasons which were very well understood, not to engage in any controversial debate during that Session, and therefore there was no; reason why all the practical business, might not be finished before Easter. The only heavy Bill was in the Lords, and would not take long in that House. There was no use their coming there night after night with nothing to do, and therefore if the Government would be so good as to let them have the Miscellaneous Estimates without delay they might soon be disposed of, as nobody was inclined to obstruct the progress of business. If something of the kind were done, hon. Members might occupy the remainder of the year much more agreeably than coming there night after night to do nothing. From the state of the House every evening, the Government enjoyed facilities for carrying financial measures through which they never had had before.

SIR GEORGE LEWIS

said, that seeing the disposition of the House to proceed with the transaction of business, it was with great reluctance that he had found it necessary to ask hon. Members to reconsider one of the Votes on Thursday next. That Vote would probably give rise to some discussion; and another Vote, No 15, had been postponed, and would still require the attention of the House. However, he hoped that to-morrow the Estimates for the Revenue Departments, and also for the Post Office, would be in the hands of hon. Members, and it was the intention of the Government to propose to go on with those services after the two remaining Votes with respect to the army should be disposed of. As to the remaining Estimates of the Civil Services, he hoped that they would be in the hands of hon. Members in the course of the week.

House resumed.

Resolutions to be reported To-morrow.

Committee to sit again on Wednesday.