HC Deb 09 June 1893 vol 13 cc655-6
MR. JASPER MORE (Shropshire, Ludlow)

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether the Government have any serious intention of proceeding with the Motion which appears daily on the Notice Paper, to appoint a Select Committee to inquire into the subject of Agricultural Depression?

MR. W. E. GLADSTONE

The Government still continue desirous to appoint this Committee. Of course, they are aware that with the lapse of time the position of matters simply becomes worse; but after the manifestations that appeared in different portions of the House of a desire that the Committee should sit, the Government will, so far as depends upon them, do all they can to meet that desire.

MR. J. MORE

Has the attention of the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Sleaford (Mr. Chaplin) been drawn to the Amendment to this Motion lately put on the Paper by the hon. Member for East Suffolk; and is he prepared to withdraw his Amendment in favour of the Amendment of that hon. Member? Will the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Thanet also take that course?

MR. CHAPLIN

Yes, Sir; my attention has been directed to all the Amendments upon the Paper to the Motion of the President of the Board of Agriculture, and among them the Amendment which stands in the name of the hon. Member for the Woodbridge Division of Suffolk. With regard to the Amendment in my own name, I have frequently stated my reasons for placing it on the Paper, and I need not repeat them now. The Amendment of the hon. Member has only been placed on the Paper quite recently, I believe; but it appears to me to be directed to a specific issue—namely, the question of the fall in the prices of agricultural produce, which in my judgment lies at the root of agricultural depression, and I can only say, if the Government will accept the Amendment of the hon. Member for Suffolk, I should be prepared, as far as I am concerned, if it will facilitate the action of the Government, to withdraw the Amendment which stands in my name on the Paper at present.

MR. J. MORE

May I put a similar question to other hon. Members who have Amendments on the Paper.

* MR. SPEAKER

Order, order! The inquiry should be made privately.