§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That this House do now adjourn."—(Sir A. Acland-Hood)
§ MAJOR SEELY (Isle of Wight)asked what course the Patronage Secretary to the Treasury proposed to adopt with regard to the talking out of the Motion on the Vote for the Committee of Defence by a supporter of the Government. In addition to there being several Army matters upon which information had been desired but not given, the Opposition had been anxious to take a division on the grave question of public extravagance. Under the circumstances he hoped the right hon. Gentleman would be able to arrange for a continuance of the debate so that a decision might be taken.
§ MR. MCCRAE (Edinburgh, E.)urged the advisability of an early day being, given for the discussion of the Volunteer Vote. The logical conclusion, to be drawn from the statement of the Prime Minister was that the Volunteers would not be required to be kept up to their present strength, and that probably was the guiding principle in the Secretary of State's policy. It at any rate pointed to the desirability of an early announcement being made as to the part the Volunteers were to play in the scheme of national defence.
§ SIR ELLIOT LEES (Birkenhead)said that, as his Parliamentary conduct had been impugned, he might say he had not the same opportunities of catching the Speaker's eye as hon. Members opposite, there being more Members on his side of the House, but he was quite sincere in his remarks. He had very serious views on the question of national defence, and he would be very glad if a further opportunity for discussion could be given.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILL (Donegal, S.)said he had been in the House for nearly twenty years, but he had never seen Parliamentary tactics reduced to the level to which the Prime Minister had brought them. Although the days allotted to Supply were supposed to be for the ventilation of the views of private Members, the Prime Minister made speeches of inordinate length, and then left the House at the critical moment at the close of the de-bate, allowing one of his supporters to talk the matter out. He hoped the time would soon come when the right hon. 164 Gentleman would be thrown down from his ill-gotten eminence.
§ MR. DALZIEL (Kirkcaldy Burghs),in supporting the request of the hon. Member for the Isle of Wight, pointed out that many Members had come back to the House for the express purpose of taking part in the division. He suggested that the Government should allow the decision of the House to be taken on the Report stage.
§ *THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY (Sir A. ACLAND-HOOD, Somersetshire, Wellington)promised to bring the matter to the notice of the Prime Minister.