§ MR. CLAUDE HAY (Shoreditch, Hoxton)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether ho will afford an opportunity for the discussion of the general settlement in South Africa, and of the proposals of His Majesty's Government as regards the future financial arrangements and scheme of taxation of the Transvaal and Orange River Colonies; and whether he will shortly be prepared to make a general statement on this subject.
§ THE PRIME MINISTER AND FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR, Manchester, E.)In answer to my hon. friend, I have to say that I do not think the question is at present ripe for such a general discussion as he desires, nor do I think it possible that it will be ripe for some time to come.