The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1886-03-23 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

The House of Commons went at early hour inte
Committee ef Supply on the Navy Estimates, when
Mr. Hi Wert made a statement with regard to the
shipbuilding programme of the Admiralty. Remind.
in the Committee that the Naval Estimates for the
coming year amounted to £12.92.1.000, punted out
that omitting the Votes of Credit, the Kstimates are
higher than they have been in any year since the
Crimean War. At the ',relent time there are in
progress twenty armoured or protected shim 25 un-
protected ships, and 51 torpedo biota, the liability for
them, new vessels being no !PIN than C 13,155,000. He
explained the intentions of the Admiralty with
to the building id torpedo beats, and said that
larillrd eirit forgetting the strong clli RIM of the taxpayers,
it would lee the aim of the Government to maintain
the supremacy if England upon the sea. A twinkler
of votes were agree to.

THE IRISH QUESTION. _
Sir M. Hicks-Beach asked the First Lwd of the
Tommie), whether, as the most urgent matters of
Supply will probably be disposed of by lifouday next,
he could state when he would be in a condition to
make that further indication to the House as to the
whole, or some part, of the proposals of the Govern-
ment for dealing with the question of the state of
Ireland, which on the lath of Feb. he hoped to be able
to give by the 22nd of March.
Mr. Gladstone, who was cheered on rising, said—
The terms nerd by the right hen, baronet are not quite
scent ate. On referring to any words, they were that
after the business of Supply was cucluded, for which
I named March 22nd a. the probable date, I should,
hoped, be able to make some announcement. I
have no change to make in the statement I then made,
and next week I hope to name a day for redeeniing
the pledge I then gave. (Cheers.) I may take this
opportunity to give • caution, which I venture to
impress upon the house. I wish to recommend that
with regard to current rumours as to matters the truth
of which could not be made known at the present
time without a breach of honourable engagemente,
they should exercise A prudent reserve (Cheers.)
I would even say • wholeroine scepticism. (Cheers.)
It would bv a comparatively simple proceeding for
myself and my colleagues if we had nothing to do but
to announce the day for a etatenient or a speech.
But it would be most unsatiefactory if on any panic.
ular day, I were to rise to make a statement and were
nit able to inform the House at the mine time that a
Bill for giving effect to that stateineut had been drawn,
and would lie very promptly in the hands of lion.
member... A statement may be one, and one of
hater...et, notwithstanding the defects of the speaker ;
but it cannot form an authentic basis for the jade-
anent of the I(eum. The drawing of Bills on
matters of such a nature is a matter of considerable
delicacy and importance, and cannot be hurried
beyond a certain point ; but I can ensure the HOLISA
that nit a day ban been loot or will be lost. Cheers.)
Sir M. Hickaßeach asked whether the right hon.
gentleman would answer the question in Nl.inday or
a later day?
Mr. Gladstone—l cannot add anything to what I
have already said. (Hear, hear.)