§ MR. EVERETT (Suffolk, Woodbridge)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, in order to obtain a Report at an early day upon the depression now existing in the great industry of agriculture, and the possibility of remedying it, he will consent to the immediate appointment of a Select Committee to inquire into the limited question of the cause of the extraordinary and long-continued fall in prices which has produced the depression?
§ MR. W. E. GLADSTONEI must remind my hon. Friend that the Government has already expressed its desire to consider in a friendly spirit the terms of the Reference to the proposed Committee. I do not think it would be expedient, having given that pledge, to determine upon one particular form of Reference which would necessarily preclude others.
§ MR. EVERETTMay I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman is not aware that Members who have put down Amendments are willing to withdraw their opposition if my proposal is accepted?
§ MR. W. E. GLADSTONENo such communication has been made to me.
§ MR. CHAPLIN (Lincolnshire, Sleaford)The right hon. Gentleman, perhaps, was not in the House when I stated that if the Government were willing to accept the proposal of the hon. Member for the Woodbridge Division, I should be prepared to withdraw the Amendment standing in my name.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE (Mr. H. GARDNER,) Essex, Saffron WaldenThat did not cover the Resolution in the name of the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Thanet.