§ THE UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (The Duke of MARLBOROUGH)My Lords, I beg to move for the Return standing in the name of the noble Marquess the President of the Board of Trade.
§ Moved, for a Return of the Numbers and Nationalities of the Passengers that left the United Kingdom for Places out of Europe in each month from June to December, 1905, distinguishing the principal countries in which the passengers contracted to land.—(The Duke of Marlborough.)
§ EARL SPENCERI wish to draw attention to the wording of the Motion which has just been moved. Is it intended to have a Return for each month from June to December, 1905? We are only now in July, and it seems to me a very unusual thing to order a Return in respect of a period which has not yet arrived. Is there not a mistake?
§ THE DUKE OF MARLBOROUGHI presume the Return would naturally be made to the end of the year. The Board of Trade require power to have this Return made during the months that Parliament is not sitting.
§ EARL SPENCERI think it is a very unusual thing to ask for a Return in respect of a period not yet reached, and I hardly like to assent to the Motion straight off.
§ THE DUKE OF MARLBOROUGHThen I will withdraw the Motion till some other day, when I shall be prepared to give the noble Earl an explanation with regard to it.
§ Motion, by leave of the House, withdrawn.
§ House adjourned at a quarter past Five o'clock, to Monday next, a quarter before Eleven o'clock.