HC Deb 17 March 1845 vol 78 cc962-3
Mr. C. Buller

wished to ask a question of the Under Secretary for the Colonies, and to say a few words on a point personal to himself. He wished to ask the hon. Member whether he intended to-morrow to bring forward the Motion of which he had given notice, for Papers respecting New Zealand, and then make a statement as to the conduct of Lord Stanley, in connexion with the New Zealand Company? He believed that it was intended that such statement should be of a limited character, and be confined to one specific matter. He thought it very hard that the hon. Gentleman opposite should attempt to represent him as converting this important public question into a mere personal matter, into an opportunity for unfairly aiming a side blow at the Colonial Minister. The Notice stood—to move for "Copies of all Correspondence between the Colonial Office and the Governor of the Falkland Islands, respecting the issue of inconvertible Paper Money;" and to this he had added—"Copies of any Instructions to the Governors of New Zealand, the Falkland Islands, or any other Colony, authorising the contraction of Debts, and the issue of inconvertible paper." He had no sort of intention of drawing the House from the subject of the Falkland Islands; and if the hon. Under Secretary thought there was any danger of this, he was perfectly ready to omit the words "of New Zealand," and leave the Motion generally, "the Falkland Islands, or any other Colony."

Mr. Hope

had had no intention of imputing personal motives or unfairness of proceeding to the hon. Gentleman. With reference to the explanation desired, it was his anxious wish to make it as early as possible, and, therefore, if the Window Duty debate was over in good time, he would make that explanation on the next day.