HC Deb 06 March 1828 vol 18 c989
Sir M. W. Ridley

said, he was induced to move for some particulars of the expense of printing certain papers by order of the House, on account of the great sums which had been laid out in that way, and the apparent uselessness of that expenditure. He wished to be understood as having no intention of curtailing the right of petitioning, or of having petitions printed. What he principally objected to was the appendices to the reports of the committees, which seemed to convey no information whatever. The appendix to the slavery report, for instance, contained nothing but the names of slaves and their masters and mistresses, accompanied with declarations as to the good or bad qualities of the latter. The expense of printing these papers for the last year was calculated at 80,000l., and in some years it had amounted to 120,000l. After stating his intention to move for the appointment of a committee to investigate the subject, the hon. member concluded by moving for returns of the expense attending the printing the reports on slavery, on the Game-laws, on the burning of Hindoo widows, and other subjects.—The motion was agreed to.