§ "That a sum, not exceeding £10,633, be granted to His Majesty, to complete the sum necessary to defray the Charge which will come in course of payment 622 during the year ending on March 31st, 1906, for the Salaries and Expenses of the office of His Majesty's Secretary for Scotland and Subordinate Office, Expenses under The Inebriates Acts, 1879 to 1900, and Expenses under The Private Legislation Procedure (Scotland) Act, 1899, including a Grant in Aid of the Congested Districts (Scotland) Fund."
§ Resolution read a second time.
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That this House doth agree with the Committee in the said Resolution."
§ MR. WHITLEY (Halifax)said it was understood that if they allowed the three Navy Votes to go through no other business would be taken, and a good many Scotch Members had left the House upon that understanding.
§ THE PRIME MINISTER AND FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR,) Manchester, E.As far as I am aware there never was any suggestion that we should not go on with Supply, nor would such a course be in accordance with the ordinary practice. I think we ought to proceed with the Supply Votes on the Paper.
§ MR. WHITLEYsaid it was in consequence of the understanding to which he alluded that they did not challenge three divisions which would have taken all the time up to midnight.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI do not think any harm can be done by discussing this Vote now.
§ MR. COURTENAY WARNER (Staffordshire, Lichfield)said it was clearly understood that the discussion was to proceed until midnight, and as many hon. Members interested in the Vote now before them had gone away it was futile to say that they could conveniently discuss this matter now, because those who wished to discuss it were not present. The Opposition had kept their pledge to allow these Votes to get through before twelve o'clock, and he hoped the Government would not press this Vote now.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI did not suggest that hon. Members opposite had any ulterior motives. There are however, two non-contentious measures on the Order Paper which perhaps we might be permitted to take now. I refer to Mr. Speaker's Retirement Bill and the War Stores (Commission) Bill.
§ MR. RUNCIMAN (Dewsbury)said that his understanding of the arrangement come to was that the hon. Gentleman opposite, representing the Government, undertook that if the Opposition allowed him to have this Vote he would not press for a division at 7.30, and after he had got the three Votes necessary to make up Vote 8 he would not press any further business. He admitted that there was some doubt as to the questions which 624 would crop up after that business was disposed of, but, on the Opposition side of the House, many hon. Members were under the impression that no further Votes in Supply would be taken. On that understanding many Scotch Members had left the House. He did not suppose that anyone would take exception to Mr. Speaker's Retirement Bill, but the other measure alluded to by the Prime Minister was of great importance, and a large number of hon. Members who took a great interest in it were not present.
§ MR. ARTHUR HENDERSON (Durham, Barnard Castle)said he was in the House when the arrangement referred to by the hon. Member was made, and he appealed to the right hon. Gentleman to allow that arrangement to be carried out.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURI shall be quite prepared to accede to that request, but I must express a certain measure of surprise that a Bill which has been introduced by arrangement with hon. Members opposite, the very terms of which have been agreed upon, should now be regarded as being of such a character that we cannot discuss it now. Having expressed that view, I will not press the matter further to-night, and I move that the debate be adjourned.
§ Debate to be resumed upon Monday next.
§ Adjourned at five minutes before Twelve o'clock.