(SUPPLY). (Hansard, 5 June 1913)

§ Mr. GULLAND
I beg to move, "That this House do now adjourn."

§ Colonel SEELY
I understand that the Noble Lord opposite does not quite understand the arrangement we came to, and I would wish us to be perfectly clear about it before we separate. I was asked whether a further opportunity would be given to discuss several matters. I suggested that the Committee of Defence Bill or my salary would be an adequate opportunity. The hon. Member for Fareham, in an interjection said that he considered that the Committee of Defence Bill day was allocated, and I replied, "Well, then, let us have the other day, the day when my salary is taken. Of course, I am not in a position to say that we will allocate an extra Supply day. That must be done through the proper channels, and announced by the Prime Minister. All I can say is and all I wished to be understood was that, after consultation with my hon. Friend as to the days of Supply, we would give a further opportunity of debating the matters referred to upon the Motion for my salary. I could not possibly have suggested that we would give an extra day for Supply. That is a matter requiring careful consideration by the Cabinet itself. I trust that the Noble Lord will realise, after what I have said, that we have acted in accordance with custom, and that I could not make any arrangement allocating an extra day, which, as I have said, is a matter for the Cabinet itself. I could not make such an arrangement and so dislocate the Government business.

§ Lord EDMUND TALBOT
I cannot possibly accept the explanation which has just fallen from the right hon. Gentleman. We distinctly understood that what was promised was one of the extra Supply days. That was the understanding on this side of the House, and that was the explanation as it appeared to me.

§ Colonel SEELY
I think the Noble Lord, when he comes to reflect in the morning upon what has taken place, will see that the statement I have made is wholly reasonable, and that we are carrying out the agreement made through the proper quarters as to the taking of the Naval Votes. It was understood that this Vote would be taken. It was stated that Vote 1 of the Army was necessary to be taken in the near future for the 1180 purpose of getting the money required for the soldiers. Under all the circumstances, therefore, the suggestion that we should give a whole extra day could not have been in anyone's mind, and certainly was not in mine. I think, therefore, that the Noble Lord will on reflection see that the reference could only have been to the opportunity stated.

§ Lord EDMUND TALBOT
There are three extra days for Supply.

Sir HENRY DALZIEL
I do not know what hon. Gentlemen think of this matter, or whether the interpretation of the Noble Lord or of my right hon. Friend is the most objectionable. I do not think any case whatever is made out for an extra day so, far as the Debate to-day is concerned. What was the reason for giving the promise—simply because the hon. Member opposite had not concluded his speech. I think there was only one other hon. Member who wished to take part in the Debate. The House was comparatively empty, and no case whatever I think has been made out. The right hon. Gentleman might have moved the Adjournment some night at nine or ten o'clock, in order that the hon. Gentleman might have an opportunity of concluding his speech. I do not think we should have Government days thrown about like this. I have been counting the Bills the Government have issued, and I make out that we shall be here at least until 23rd December, and, giving an extra day now, will carry us over Christmas. I am not a betting man, but I would almost bet that the Noble Lord will get his way before this thing is settled. If my right hon. Friend even had a right to provide an extra day, it would only make my protest all the stronger. What right has the right hon. Gentleman to take away a day out of the twenty which should go to some great Department of State, whose affairs have not been discussed for the last four or five years. We are promised two days for Scotland. It is not enough, but it is a small instalment of justice. I hope my right hon. Friend will not use his persuasive eloquence to take away one of those days. If Scotland gets an extra day this year it means another Department of State has to suffer. Then we have three extra days that the Government have the right to give if the circumstances so require it. Is it intended to take these extra days this year. I am afraid it will be necessary, and that means we will be sitting still longer. The whole reason for this is that the right hon. 1181 Gentleman wanted to get the Report of the Navy Votes, and not that he was anxious to hear the hon. Gentleman opposite. Surely that is a very small reason for throwing days about in the manner in which the right hon. Gentleman has done. I enter my protest as a private Member against the extravagance of the Government in regard to time. I appeal to my right hon. Friend the Patronage Secretary to put his foot down against this action of Ministers. I ask him to make a vigorous speech to them such as he made to his own constituency. I hope that the promise of no Autumn Session will not be a mere fancy matter, because there is not much concession in saying there will be no Autumn Session if we are to continue the present one up to Christmas. I do hope the Government will face the situation now, and will as soon as possible give us a declaration and the real urgent business they desire to pass. For my part, I am sorry an extra day was promised for this discussion. The result of all this will be we will find ourselves sitting here until the end of the year. I must enter my humble protest against any such arrangement.

§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Illingworth)
I can assure my right hon. Friends that it will not be an extra day. It will be an ordinary day in Supply on which the dis- 1182 cussion will take place. I can give my right hon. Friend the Member for Kirkcaldy Burghs the absolute assurance that the two days already promised to Scotland will not be interfered with in any way, and also that. I quite agree with him that an autumn Session is in every way undesirable.

§ Lord EDMUND TALBOT
I cannot agree with what the hon. Member has said about this being an ordinary day in Supply. We distinctly understood that we were going to get for this Vote one of the three extra days.

§ Mr. ILLINGWORTH
There was an agreement for us to get to-night this Vote and the Report of the Navy Votes, and we were under no obligation to give an extra day. I think, if the Noble Lord will consult the hon. Member for Fareham, he will find that he agrees with my opinion.

§ Mr. HUNT
I gave way on the distinct understanding that we should have an extra day on this Vote. This is the second time I have given way when a promise has been made, and if the Government are not going to keep their word I shall certainly never give way again unless I am told to sit down by Mr. Speaker.