§ SIR JOHN HAYsaid that there were now 80 Notices down on the Paper upon the Motion for going into Committee of Supply on the Navy Estimates, and of these only six bore any reference to the Navy. One stood in his name, and he was prepared to postpone it until the consideration of Vote 6 or Vote 10; but before doing so he requested an assurance from the Government that he would have an opportunity of discussing the important question involved at some reasonable hour of the night. He had moved for Returns which were essential to the proper discussion of Votes 6 and 10; but though they had been promised some time ago, they had not yet been laid on the Table. Unless the Returns were ready he should consider it his duty to go on with the Motion of which he had given Notice; but he suggested that it would be better to postpone the Votes in question until the Return was in the hands of hon. Members.
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANquite appreciated the position taken by the right hon. and gallant Gentleman, and undertook not to take the Votes referred to on Monday.
§ MR. W. H. SMITHsaid, he thought the arrangement suggested a very 205 reasonable one. To discuss again, as they had done last year, such an important Vote as shipbuilding in the second week of August, would, however, be a scandal, and, therefore, he hoped the Return would be produced within a reasonable period.
MR. GLADSTONEreminded the right hon. Gentleman that he had already given pledges that whatever took place with regard to other Business, Supply should be taken before the middle of July.
§ MR. W. H. SMITHsaid the right hon. Gentleman had also accompanied that with a promise to give an opportunity for discussion on Foreign Affairs. He wished to impress on the right hon. Gentleman the gravity of these questions, which had not been sufficiently discussed, and on which Gentlemen on the opposite side of the House felt a deep interest.