§ MR. GISBORNEsaid, that he had been summoned to attend on the Com- 465 mittee of the Liverpool Waterworks, and he was anxious to have the benefit of the Speaker's advice as to whether he was to attend the debate in that House or to sit on the Committee. The latter body was composed of but two or three Members, and if he were to absent himself to-day, the Committee would be broken up. He was anxious, however, to be present at the debate on the Factory Bill, and he really felt himself in a position of great difficulty as to the course he should adopt. The present system of things was one which was calculated to cause much perplexity and difficulty to Members, and loudly called for the correction of the House. Unless the House would make some new regulation, it would be extremely difficult for Members to discharge their duties with satisfaction either to themselves or their constituents.
§ SIR GEORGE GREYthought that hon. Members should be permitted to exercise their own discretion as to whether they would attend on Committees or in that House. No doubt much difficulty and perplexity must arise to honourable Members when that House and the Committees were sitting concomitantly; but the best plan was for Members to act according to the best discretion in making a selection. Looking at the great importance of the question to be debated to-day, he did not think that any hon. Member could be censured if, when put to the alternative, he preferred attending in the House to sitting in a Committee. The better course would have been for the Committee, perhaps, to have adjourned over.
MR. BERNALcontended, that it was highly inexpedient and improper to throw upon Members the responsibility of determining whether they would attend in that House or sit in Committees to which they had been summoned. The House ought, unquestionably, to make some rule or regulation on this subject, and not place individual Members in the odious and invidi-dious position of determining, by the exercise of their own discretion, whether they would attend that House or on Committee. It was certainly a matter of great delicacy and difficulty for a Member to absent himself from a Committee, and thereby cause great delay to public business, and perhaps an expenditure of four or five hundred pounds to parties who were interested in promoting or resisting railway or other Bills; but, on the other hand, a Member's duty to his constituency 466 might render it imperative that he should attend the House. The House ought to take this matter into consideration, and make some rules to facilitate the passing of private Bills.
§ MR. SPEAKERbegged leave to remind the hon. Member for Nottingham (Mr. Gisborne) that there was no question before the Chair. If the hon. Gentleman had given notice of his intention to propose any resolution in reference to this matter, the whole subject might have been formally discussed; but, in the absence of any such notice, the discussion was irregular. The hon. Member's attendance was not compulsory, and the better course was that he should act according to his own discretion.
§ Subject dropped.