§ order for Committee read.
§ MR. W. H. SMITH, in moving that Mr. Speaker do now leave the Chair, appealed to the House to go at once into Committee of Supply, in order that some Votes on the Navy Estimates, which were absolutely necessary for the Public Service, might be taken. He made that appeal without the slightest desire to impede the other Business. The Votes would only occupy a few minutes; and if hon. Members who had Notices on the Paper would postpone their Motions until after the Votes had been taken, his right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer would again propose that the House should resolve itself into Committee, in order that the Motions which stood upon the Paper as Amendments to Supply might be proceeded with without delay.
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, " That Mr. Speaker do now leave the Chair."
§ MR. A. MOOREsaid he did not wish in any way to impede the progress of Business.
§ MR. CHILDERSthought the course proposed by the right hon. Gentleman was a very desirable one, though it might be unusual. He gave in his adhesion to the arrangement, on the understanding that the Government would undertake to keep a House.
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERentirely accepted the duty of keeping a House, and expressed his acknowledgments for the consideration shown for the Government Business on this occasion. He would not have made this request had it not been absolutely necessary, seeing that they were so near the end of the quarter.
§ MR. BIGGARasked what Business would be taken on Monday, supposing these Votes were got to-night?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERsaid, the Army Discipline and Regulation Bill would be taken on Monday.
§ Question put, and agreed to.