§ MR. BRYN ROBERTS (Carnarvonshire,) EifionI beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, in view of the importance of the matters involved in the motion of the honourable Member for Merthyr, to be debated on Tuesday next, and the wide interest taken in it, he will move on Tuesday that the debate thereon, if under discussion at twelve o'clock, be not interrupted under the Standing Order, Sittings of the House.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURNo, Sir. I cannot imagine that anybody in the House, except, perhaps, the hon. Member himself, would desire that the debate on Tuesday should be prolonged after twelve o'clock at night. I may say that, unless we finish the Report stage of the three War Office Votes, one of which was finished last night, by twelve o'clock on Monday, I shall have to take a morning sitting on Tuesday. I cannot imagine, however, that there will I be any difficulty in getting the Report stage by then.
§ MR. D. A. THOMAS () Merthyr TydvilBut the right hon. Gentleman has given us an assurance that he will only take a morning sitting in the case of grave emergency.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURQuite so; and I consider the question of keeping the law a grave emergency. When I asked the House to give me certain privileges I explained that the Treasury had to meet certain demands from the War Office, and I am now informed that unless the Report stage of these Votes is obtained by Tuesday, we cannot comply with the law.
§ MR. BUCHANAN () Aberdeenshire, E.What is the law '? What are the statutory obligations which require that Report of these three Votes should be taken by Tuesday night? Perhaps the Chancellor of the Exchequer can tell us that.
§ SIR M. HICKS BEACHI have nothing to add to the statement already made by the Leader of the House. I cannot quote any particular statute, clause, or section; I can only confirm what my right hon. friend has stated.
§ SIR WILFRID LAWSON () Cumberland, CockermouthWhat will happen if the Vote is not passed?
§ SIR M. HICKS BEACHThe law will be broken.
§ MR. JOHN REDMOND () WaterfordDoes the statement of the right hon. Gentleman mean that he is determined by the use of the closure to insist upon passing this Vote of thirteen millions sterling to-night?
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder, order! The application of the closure does not rest with the right hon. Gentleman.
§ MR. JOHN REDMONDI know its application depends on the Chairman, but I would ask the right Hon. Gentleman does he intend as far as lies in his power to force through the House, after one night's debate, the Vote for thirteen millions?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI think the hon. Gentleman has put the question under a misapprehension. My view 237 that the time afforded is quite sufficient is strengthened by the fact that in the debate on the Address a large number of Members, including notably the hon. Gentleman himself, made speeches whose subject matter was very closely allied to the question we are now discussing. The Committee took the Vote for men last night, and are to take the Vote for money to-night. The practice is that the general discussion shall take place either on one or the other of these Votes, and as far as it lay with me I have given ample latitude to the general discussion which has already taken place on the Vote for men. It cannot be said, therefore, that the Money Vote is to be dealt with in one night, for it has already been dealt with in a debate extending over three or four nights.
§ MR. JOHN REDMONDIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that not a single speech was delivered dealing with the money question?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe whole policy was discussed.
§ MR. D. A. THOMASWill the Report stage be taken after twelve o'clock on Monday?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURThe Report stage can be taken after twelve o'clock.