HC Deb 20 March 1894 vol 22 cc784-5

Motion made, and Question proposed, That a Select Committee be appointed to control the arrangements for the Kitchen and Refreshment Rooms, in the department of the Serjeant-at-Arms attending this House."—(Mr. T, E. Ellis.)

MR. A. C. MORTON (Peterborough)

said, he had obtained a promise that this proposal should not be taken except at a reasonable hour, when there would be an opportunity of debating it. Acting upon that promise a number of Members who were interested had gone away. He hoped, therefore, that the right hon. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer would allow the proposal to be put off. Otherwise, he thought there would be an impression that the right hon. Gentleman had not acted fairly.

SIR W. HARCOURT

said, he certainly had every desire to act fairly. The hour was comparatively early, and if the Committee were not appointed supplies might literally be cut off.

MR. CREMER (Shoreditch, Haggerston)

said that, as one of the Members of the Committee, he should have been glad if the proposal could have been postponed. He was not anxious for any unnecessary delay, but it was idle to dis- guise the fact that some very unpleasant expressions had been used in regard to the Committee. He had invited some of those who had used such expressions to make their complaints in the House, so that the Members of the Committee could answer them. As the Members who complained had gone away, they could not now express their views, and he therefore hoped that the Motion would be postponed.

MR. A. C. MORTON

said, that acting upon what he thought was an understanding with the Chancellor of the Exchequer, he had told Members who were interested in the question that they might go away as far as he was concerned. He should not attempt to discuss the question at that late hour.

Question put, and agreed to.

The Committee was accordingly nominated of,—Mr. Anstruther, Mr. Agg-Gardner, Lord Burghley, Mr. Cremer, Mr. Fellowes, General Goldsworthy, Mr. Sidney Herbert, Mr. Jacoby, Mr. Leveson-Gower, Mr. Loder, Mr. M Arthur. Mr. P. J. Power, Mr. Alfred Thomas, and Dr Tanner.

Ordered, That Three be the quorum.—(Mr. T. E. Ellis.)