§ "That a sum, not exceeding £139,395, be granted to His Majesty, to complete the sum necessary to defray the Charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1904, for the Salaries and Expenses of the Office of the Committee of Privy Council for Trade and Subordinate Departments, including a Grant in Aid."
§ Resolution read a second time.
MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)moved that the consideration of the said Resolution might be postponed. His reason for making this Motion was that in consequence of the most regrettable accident to the President of the Board of Trade, which no one deplored more than he, the questions he desired to raise could not be properly raised. He would just call attention to the fact that the Prime Minister had informed the Committee that out of this Vote he proposed to take certain moneys and allocate them to the purposes of the Convention at Brussels. That was one reason for postponing the consideration of this Resolution. Besides that, he had serious 63 complaints to make with regard to the Department of the right hon. Gentleman with regard to the Returns in connection with shipping which had been promised again and again and never supplied, and with regard to the question of shipping subsidies. These were very important matters, and under the circumstances he thought he was justified in moving the postponement.
§ SIR ALBERT ROLLIT (Islington, S.)hoped his hon. friend would accede to the Motion, which seemed a most reasonable one. The appropriation of these funds for the purpose of the Sugar Convention, which many of them opposed, was a conclusive reason for postponing it.
MR. GALDWELLsaid there were special reasons for the postponement of the Resolution. When dealing with a great Department the Resolution was always held over from time to time in case of matters cropping up. On the night this Vote was taken it was taken on the distinct understanding that the Report should be put off for some time, because there were other matters to be taken on Report.
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY TO THE BOARD OF TRADE (MR. BONAR LAW,) Glasgow, Blackfriarssaid he was prepared to accede to the request of hon. Members. He merely desired to say that where there were two officers in charge of a Department one should be ready to answer any questions which might be put. Had such questions been addressed to him he would have done his best to answer them, but he had no objection to postpone this Report.
§ Further consideration of Resolution postponed till Monday, 8th June.