§ MR. AKERS-DOUGLAS, (Kent, St. Augustine's)who took the opportunity to associate himself with the hon. Member for Norwood in expressing the pleasure with which they saw the right hon. Gentleman back in his place, asked the Prime Minister, in the event of the debate on the Address being concluded this week, what would be the business on Monday next.
§ SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANAs far as we can estimate, it will be possible, and therefore desirable, to bring the discussion on the Address to an end on Thursday night. As the right hon. Gentleman's question refers to next week, perhaps I might ask him to repeat the question on Thursday, which is the usual day for giving information as to the business of the following week.
§ MR. AKERS-DOUGLAShoped the right hon. Gentleman, before finally deciding to close the debate on the Address on Thursday, would consider three Motions to which the Opposition attached 729 very considerable importance—the questions of a Minister of Commerce, the incidence of local taxation, and the state of the hop-growing industry.
§ SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANWe have no desire to shut out the Motions to which the right hon. Gentleman refers; but, in the interests of the general convenience, we think it would be right that the debate on the Address should be finished on Thursday night.
§ MR. CHAPLIN (Surrey, Wimbledon)pressed the right hon. Gentleman to allow at all events the question of the status of the Board of Trade to be raised. He assured the right hon. Gentleman that this was a matter on which immense interest was taken by the local authorities throughout the country.
§ MR. J. WARDreminded the Prime Minister that on the very first night of the session the debate could not be kept going the allotted time, and that last night the House was almost counted out.
SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERANThat, Sir, is the other side of the picture, which it is the duty of the Government to keep in view.