§ SIR EDWARD J. REEDasked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether, in view of the anxiety which is felt respecting the present state of the Navy, he will afford me facilities for making the Motion which stands in my name, and for taking the sense of the House upon it?
MR. GLADSTONEIn answer to my hon. Friend, I may state that I 887 think he is under a misapprehension as to the Rules with respect to Motions made in this House in the nature of Votes of Censure. It is certainly the established practice of the House—and I hope it will continue to be the established practice—that when Notice of a Vote of Censure is given in the House by some person who is entitled to express the opinion of some very large portion of the House, and is responsible for making himself the organ of that opinion—in such eases, undoubtedly, it is the established practice to put aside the course of Business for the purpose of entertaining such a Vote of Censure. I do not in the least mean to say that these are the only Votes of Censure that ought to be moved; but I only mean to say that there is no justification for interfering with the course of Business when the Vote of Censure proceeds from an individual Member on his own responsibility. At the present moment I could not do anything—independently of what I have just stated—in derogation of the precedence that has been given to the Parliamentary Elections (Redistribution) Bill. But having thus far given an answer to my hon. Friend, I beg he will not suppose that I am desirous to see the discussion of his Motion postponed. I should be very glad to see it brought on speedily; and, by way of giving him some small assistance, I wish to refer him to the answer given the other day by my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow (Dr. Cameron). When my hon. Friend behind me appealed to the hon. Member for Glasgow and requested him to give him precedence for his Motion, the hon. Member for Glasgow replied that probably my hon. Friend would be able to get precedence from me. Now, Sir, as I have had the opportunity of dispelling that idea on the part of the hon. Member for Glasgow, and as it is not in my power to give precedence to my hon. Friend, the hon. Member will now understand that the reason given for his refusal is entirely removed, and possibly he will now make way for my hon. Friend.
§ SIR EDWARD J. REEDWill the Prime Minister allow me to ask him another Question on this subject? The terms of my Motion are not in the form of a Vote of Censure on the Government, but only of a Vote of Censure on a Department of the Administration; and 888 it seems to me that we have some claim to bring before the House the views which, after care and consideration, we hold on this subject. I should have thought—[Cries of "Order!" and "Hear, hear!"]—that the Admiralty itself would have been glad to have had this matter discussed. [Renewed cries of "Order!" and "Hear, hear!" I beg to give Notice that on Monday next I shall ask the Prime Minister whether he will be prepared to give me an evening after Easter?