HC Deb 29 June 1897 vol 50 cc811-2
THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR,) Manchester, E.

I beg to move "That this House do now adjourn," but I desire to take this opportunity of conveying to the House a message which I have received from Her Majesty. The Queen is distressed to hear, now for the first time, through the newspapers, that, owing to some unfortunate misunderstanding, all the Members of the House of Commons did not get into the Throne Room on Wednesday last, and thus were prevented from seeing Her Majesty, and at the same time Her Majesty was unable to see them. I have now received the Queen's gracious command to say that Her Majesty wishes to receive all the Members of the House of Commons and their wives at Windsor on the afternoon of Saturday next. [Loud cheers, and slight Nationalist laughter.]

SIR T. ESMONDE

said that a number of Members who were interested in the Report of Supply of June 18 were very much disappointed that it had not been taken that evening. They had come down, as they had come down yesterday, and waited for the Report, and on each occasion it had been adjourned. He thought that some notice might have been given of the intention of the Government to postpone the Vote a second time, and he would like to know when the Government really intended to take it. Ho would suggest that it should be taken on Friday or Monday.

THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY

I cannot, of course, be absolutely sure, but I hope to put the Report down fur Monday, and I hope it will be taken on Monday.

SIR T. ESMONDE

I am much obliged to the right hon. Gentleman.

MR. DALZIEL

said he desired to put a question in procedure. He wished to know why the right lion. Gentleman had taken the unusual course of moving the adjournment of the House before the Orders of the Day were disposed of.

THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY

said he did not think any injury had been done. There were 90 Orders of the Day on the Paper, and they could not all be got through.

DR. TANNER

contended-that the right hon. Gentleman had made a mistake, and a gross mistake.

Question, "That this. House do now adjourn," put and agreed to.

House adjourned accordingly at Ten Minutes after Twelve o'clock.