§ Mr. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINMay I ask a question about Business? I think there is some misunderstanding between us, but I am sure it can be cleared up. I understood that the Chancellor of the Exchequer was going to ask the leave of the House to make a financial statement to-day, which it has been promised, as to the effect of the changes in the Finance Bill, so that when he made that 634 statement he might lay a White Paper before us.
§ Mr. LLOYD-GEORGEI believed that after consultation it was understood that the convenient time to do that would be on the Motion for Adjournment. That would enable any questions to be put.
§ Mr. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINNo doubt the misunderstanding was my fault. I need not say the arrangement is equally satisfactory, provided the Motion for Adjournment takes place at a reasonable time. I think it is evident that we cannot finish the Land Clauses to-day, and I hope the Chancellor of the Exchequer will be able to say that he does not, after the labours of the week, intend to keep us very late to-day.
§ Mr. LLOYD-GEORGEI would be the last man to desire to sit late—I have had so much of it. But I should rather like to have some sort of idea of the view of the Opposition whether, supposing we failed to get the Land Clauses through to-night, it would be possible to get them either by the dinner-hour on Monday, or at what time. Otherwise we might sit a little later to-night. Perhaps the right hon. Gentleman could give some assurance, so that we might rise fairly early, and I am perfectly certain everybody will be pleased if that is done.
§ Mr. A. J. BALFOURThe right hon. Gentleman knows how difficult it is to make anything in the nature of a pledge. Directly a pledge is given everybody has to see that it is going to be carried through absolutely to the letter. As the right hon. Gentleman and the House knows, a full share of the Debates of the last two or three days have been occupied by Gentlemen on the other side by some of the Amendments. I cannot myself imagine, and I do not think it is possible, that the Land Clauses should last over Monday. Personally, I cannot think so.
§ Mr. LLOYD-GEORGEPerhaps there may be another opportunity of saying how far we will be able to go.
§ Mr. BALFOURI am sure it can be done.
§ Mr. LLOYD-GEORGEUnder those circumstances, we ought to be able to adjourn by five or six o'clock, and then I can make my statement.