§ MR. LAMBERTI beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, having regard to the necessity of keeping Colonial Conferences free from British Party politics, he will intimate the desirability that the next Colonial Conference should not be held until after the next general election, when the fiscal controversy possibly may not be so acute.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURAs I have already intimated, the conference is not to meet for over twelve months, and it does not appear to me a matter in which we can usefully lay down regulations at the present moment. I understand this Question refers directly to a matter on which it is proposed to have a vote of censure on the Government.
§ MR. LAMBERTMy Question is whether the conference will be called after the general election or not.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURIf the hon. Member reads the terms of the proposed vote of censure I think he will see that that is the point.
§ MR. LAMBERTWhat vote of censure? Where is it?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURIt was not I who put it on the Paper or who withdrew it.
§ MR. SOARESWith all respect, the right hon. Gentleman has mixed up two Answers. He gave to my hon. friend the Answer to my Question.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURAs both Questions refer to a matter the discussion on which, it seems to me, we might with great advantage defer to a later time, there may have been an appropriateness in the Answer I give to both Questions. Both are premature—they have that in common, at all events.