§ *THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Sir M. HICKS BEACH,) Bristol, W.There is a general understanding that the Committee stage of the Finance Bill shall be resumed to-day; but last evening there were one or two points brought before me on which I thought it would be necessary to add some clauses to the Bill. I therefore put down Committee of Ways and Means as the first order of the day in the belief that the preliminary resolutions relating to these matters might occupy a few minutes before going into Committee. But I find that the hon. Member for King's Lynn, acting in a manner for which there is hardly a precedent, has placed on the Paper a motion on going into Committee; and when once a discussion of that kind begins it is impossible to say how long it may go on. In these circumstances I propose the postponement of the Committee of Ways and Means until to-morrow, and that the House should proceed at once with the Committee stage of the Finance Bill.
§ Committee deferred till to-morrow.