§ MR. CHANNINGI beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, having regard to the wider questions raised by the shipping combination, His Majesty's Government will consider the advisability of withdrawing the Motion for the appointment of a Select Committee on steamship subsidies, with the view to the appointment of a Select Committee to consider all the more important questions affecting the mercantile marine of the United Kingdom, with a reference wide enough to include these questions as well as the question of subsidies.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI think it would be far better to allow this Committee to go on with its investigation, and not at the present moment enlarge the scope of its inquiry. I do not think anything would be gained by that. The Government are investigating what is going on now, as I told the House 632 the other night; and I should strongly advise the hon. Gentleman to do what he can to enable this Committee to set to work and finish its inquiry before we endeavour to enlarge its scope.
§ MR. HENNIKER HEATONWhen will the Committee be appointed?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI am very anxious for the appointment of the Committee, but some hon. Gentlemen, who object to the Committee as being too large or the reference to it being too limited, are doing their best, as far as I can see, to prevent that.
§ MR. GIBSON BOWLES (King's Lynn)Can the right hon. Gentleman hold out out any prospect of being able to give the House exact information as to this shipping combination?
§ * MR. SPEAKEROrder, order! That is going beyond the Question on the Paper.