§ SIR EDWARD J. REEDasked the First Lord of the Treasury, If he will now name a day upon which the Motion expressive of anxiety respecting the state of the Navy, standing in his name, can be made?
MR. GLADSTONEI am not prepared to name a day for the discussion of my hon. Friend's Motion after what I have already stated with reference to the other Business before the House, including the Vote of Censure with reference to the Budget Resolutions.
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACHWill the right hon. Gentleman state when the Budget proposals are likely to be taken? This is the first time I ever heard an Amendment to the Budget proposals described as a Vote of Censure.
MR. GLADSTONEPerhaps I ought not to have said that the Motion is a Vote of Censure, but to have called it a Vote of Confidence. It is a Motion of very great importance, involving several wide and complex questions of taxation, and requiring considerable time in order to dispose of them. As the Budget proposals cannot come on until next week, which would be immediately on the verge of the Whitsuntide Holidays, the Government have concluded that, on the whole, it would be more fair to the House and more advantageous to postpone, at any rate, the Committee on the Budget proposals till after the Recess. I should think, therefore, that the best place for the Motion will be in the Committee after Whitsuntide.
§ In reply to Mr. BOURSE,
MR. GLADSTONEsaid: The Papers in regard to Afghanistan and the negotiations with Russia will, I hope, be laid upon the Table on Friday next, with the view of their being circulated on Saturday.