HC Deb 08 May 1856 vol 142 cc237-8

Order for Committee read.

House in Committee.

Clause 1.

MR. MAGUIRE

said, he would beg to ask the hon. and learned Member for Greenock, who had charge of the Bill, whether he was prepared to introduce a clause to prevent these reformatory institutions from being made a medium for proselytism—that was, by allowing Roman Catholic children to receive religious instruction from clergymen of their own persuasion?

MR. DUNLOP

in reply said, that the schools to be established under the Bill would be private institutions, supported for the most part by private subscriptions; and he was afraid such a clause as that might tend to impair their efficiency, or obstruct their establishment.

MR. HUTCHINS

said, there was a somewhat similar measure, of a larger scope, before the House, and perhaps it would be better to engraft such a clause on that Bill; otherwise in bringing up the. Report on the Bill now under consideration the clause ought to be enforced.

Mr. ARCHIBALD HASTIE

said, since the Bill was last before the House, he had made inquiries into the charges of proselytism made against the managers of some of these reformatory institutions in Scotland, and he had found that it could not be supported by evidence.

Notice being taken that Forty Members were not present, the Committee was told; and Forty Members not being present Mr. SPEAKER resumed the chair; and having counted the House, and Forty Members not being present,

The House was adjourned at a quarter before Eight o'clock.