§ LOUD LYTTELTONmoved the Second Reading of the Bill for the better Government of the Colony of Western Australia, the principal provisions in which his Lordship briefly explained.
§ EARL GREYwas glad to find that some amendments were about to be made in the government of this Colony, but he could not approve of all the provisions of the Bill. His opinion was, that the ancient system, by which Colonies were allowed to manage their own affairs, was infinitely safer, wiser, and better than that which of late years had been pursued. The condition of the whole government of Australia required immediate redress, and to be put in a condition for permanent improvement. Unless something was done with this view, we could not expect the Colony to make that progress which, from its natural advantages, it might be expected to exhibit. With these opinions, if he entertained the least hope of success, he would give his opposition to the Bill in its present shape; but as he had no anticipation of any great support, he would not give their Lordships any trouble upon the subject.
§ LORD LYTTELTONthought it would be most unfair to throw the burden incident to self-government upon the Colony, without knowing the sentiments of the olonists.
§ The DUKE of RICHMONDcomplained that nothing had been done by Her Majesty's Government as regarded, convicts. If some means were not taken for their improvement, he should, as an independent Peer of Parliament, feel it his duty to move for a Select Committee of Inquiry; for in no country calling itself Christian was there a class in a worse state of depravity than were the unfortunate men who had been transported.
§ LORD LYTTELTONassured the noble Duke that Her Majesty's Government had given to this subject the consideration which on a former occasion he promised 172 should be given to it; and he had strong hopes, almost amounting to a certainty, of being able, in the course of the Session, to introduce some measure upon the subject.
§ Bill read 2a.