§ MR. BRYCE (Aberdeen, S.)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury if he can state when it is intended to introduce the Australian Federation Bill.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI am afraid I cannot fix a date for this Bill, though I hope the debate will not be long deferred. It is possible we may be able to introduce it next Monday. In any case it will not be introduced this week. As I am referring to the course of business, perhaps it would be convenient if I told the House that I propose on Thursday to take the discussion on the Education Code and the minute which has been laid on the Table in connection with elementary education. I shall put that down as the first Order of the Day on Thursday, subject to this reservation, that if I am not able to get the Report stage of the Uganda Bill—which I hope will be regarded as a purely formal operation—on Tuesday or Wednesday, I may possibly put it down on Thursday before the Education Vote. As to Supply on Friday, I should be glad if a question could be put to me tomorrow. But I may state at once that it seems to me desirable that the misconceptions which have gathered round the public controversy connected with the publication of the Spion Kop despatches should be dealt with as soon as possible in this House. I notice that one or two gentlemen have put down notices on the Paper; I am not aware that there is any reasonable chance of their coming on. I think the sooner the question is discussed within these walls the better. Misconceptions cannot be adequately or wholly dealt with by question and answer in this House. I shall therefore put the salary of the Secretary for War down for discussion first on Friday. I shall be able to state tomorrow the Supply I shall take afterwards.
§ SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN (Stirling Burghs)The arrangement the right hon. Gentleman has proposed with regard to the discussion of the publication of the Spion Kop, despatches, will, I think, be satisfactory. But with regard to the Uganda Railway, I wish to ask when the right hon. Gentleman contemplates that the House should discuss the question? Would it not be more convenient to discuss it on the Second Reading of the Bill, rather than at the present stage?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURYes, Sir. My own impression is that it would be more convenient to the House to discuss the subject on the Second Reading of the Bill, when they will be in full possession of the statement of the Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs and will have had time to consider it.
§ MR. BROADHURST (Leicester)When will the Second Reading of the Factories and Workshops Bill be taken?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURNot this week.