§ MR. W. M. TORRENS, having a Motion on the Paper—
That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, praying that She may direct measures to be taken to provide passages to the Colonies for intending Emigrants, who shall be approved by competent authority, at cheap and uniform rates of charge,said, that a difficulty having been suggested in regard to the irregularity of his Motion, he wished to ask the right hon. Gentleman the Speaker, whether he was of opinion that his Motion was substantially identical with one which had been disposed of in the early part of the Session. If so, he (Mr. Torrens) would have no choice but to ask leave either to withdraw or postpone his Motion.
§ MR. SPEAKERI shall be glad to explain to the House the ground on which I informed the hon. Member of the objections which exist to his Motion. There is a rule of the House that no Question may be proposed which is the same in substance as has been resolved in the affirmative or negative in the same Session. On the 1st of March of this year this Resolution was proposed— 825
That, in order to arrest the increase of Pauperism, and to relieve the distressed condition of the working classes, it is expedient that measures be adopted for facilitating the Emigration of poor families to British Colonies.The Motion to-day is—That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, praying that She may direct measures to be taken to provide passages to the Colonies for intending Emigrants, who shall be approved by competent authority, at cheap and uniform rates of charge.Now, that is facilitating the emigration of poor families to the British Colonies. The vote of the House has decided against it; and, certainly, in obedience to the rules of the House, I must say most distinctly that, in my opinion, it would conflict with the rule which I have quoted.