MR. GLADSTONEI wish to announce that we propose to take the Navy Estimates on Monday and the Civil Service Estimates on Thursday, when we shall propose to break off from their consideration sufficiently early to enable my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to make the necessary introductory statement in laying on the Table of the House the Landlord and Tenant Bill. We propose, too, that the first day after the Recess shall be devoted to the Civil Service Estimates. I will make, before the Recess, such further statement as I may be able with regard to the course of Business.
§ SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTESir, I wish to ask the Prime Minister whether he can now fix a day for the conclusion of the debate upon the Transvaal? The state of things appears to be this—The Motion of my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Chatham (Mr. Gorst) is the Main Question, upon which an Amendment has been moved by the hon. Member for Oxfordshire (Mr. Cartwright). Several other Amendments are to be moved upon the Amendment of the hon. Member for Oxfordshire should it become the Main Question, among which is one to be moved by the right hon. Gentleman the Member for East Gloucestershire (Sir Michael Hicks-Beach), which expresses dissatisfaction at the policy adopted by the Government with reference to previous events. It was understood that if the debate could 1879 be simplified and a single issue could be presented, the question might be settled in one debate; and the right hon. Gentleman at the head of the Government gave us to understand that he would be prepared to fix a day for the debate. I think that, with such information as I have been able to collect, both from answers given in the House and from such communications as I have boon able to hold, that there is every reason to believe that all the Amendments now upon the Paper, and the original Motion, might be withdrawn, if the right hon. Gentleman, who has given Notice of an Amendment himself, would allow that Amendment to be taken as the Main Question. The right hon. Gentleman the Member for East Gloucestershire would be prepared, in that event, to move an Amendment upon the Resolution of the right hon. Gentleman. Such Amendment would run somewhat as follows:—
That the House is unable to regard the course which the Government have announced their intention to pursue with reference to the Chiefs and people of Bechuanaland as an adequate fulfilment of the obligations contracted by the Government in regard to the Native Tribes in that part of South Africa.If the Prime Minister is able to adopt that course, a definite issue would be presented to the House, and a debate will be raised which will admit of a speedy conclusion.
MR. GLADSTONESir, the right hon. Gentleman presents this matter to me in an entirely new light. What I have understood to be the case was this. First of all, the statement is correct that I have referred to the simplification and the presentation of a single issue as the condition upon which I was prepared to say that the Government would endeavour to make some arrangement for the purpose of ending the discussion. At that time I certainly understood that the issue to be discussed was to be the issue raised by the Amendment on the Paper of the right hon. Gentleman the Member for East Gloucestershire (Sir Michael Hicks-Beach)—namely, the case of the Convention, which formed the basis of the present state of things in the Transvaal. Now, as I understand, the question is an entirely different one. It is proposed that my Amendment should become the Main Question, and that the right hon. Gentleman the Member for East Gloucester- 1880 shire should move another Amendment, which has not yet appeared upon the Paper, not relating to the Transvaal Convention, but to Bechuanaland. That is a new question, which I must take a little time to consider, for I am not prepared to admit at this moment that it lies within the compass of the answer I previously gave.
§ SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTEsaid, he would repeat the Question on Monday. He wished to know if it was then proposed to take the Customs and Inland Revenue Bill?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. CHILDERS)said, the Bill would not be taken until Monday.