HC Deb 27 March 1833 vol 16 cc1140-1
Mr. George Wood

wished to call the attention of the House to the state of the list on which hon. Members put down their names to be called on to present petitions. He had put clown his name on that list at the commencement of the present Session, and it was not until this day that it had come to his turn to present his petitions; and that must be his excuse to his constituents for not having performed his duty earlier. On looking over the list, the other day, he found many hundred names down, so that he stood but very little chance of having another opportunity for some time to come; but what he most complained of was, that some hon. Members' names occurred more than once in that list; nay, more, one hon. Member's name occurred no less than eight times. Now, he apprehended that such a course was dealing most unfairly by other hon. Members and their constituents; and he trusted that the House would adopt some mode of putting a stop to it.

The Speaker

was sure that the House would feel itself under an obligation to the hon. Member for having called attention to the subject. He, however, considered that it arose from some oversight on the part of hon. Members, without once considering what course justice required to be pursued. The names of hon. Members might appear more than once on the list, without incorrectness; but that one name should be repeated eight times was manifestly an abuse of the plan which had been proposed.

Mr. Cobbett

thought the plan now in operation most objectionable. He had not been called upon by the Speaker for nearly a fortnight, and the consequence was, that his petitions had accumulated to the number of fifty-six. He had attended day after day, in hopes of being able to present his petitions, but was always disappointed. He considered that the best plan to adopt would be—to have an alphabetical list made out, and call upon hon. Members in that order; that would put an end entirely to all confusion.

Mr. Spring Rice

considered that the plan proposed by the hon. member for Oldham was liable to this objection—that hon. Members, whose names might begin with A, B, or C, might occupy the time of the House to the total exclusion of those whose names unfortunately began with X, Y or Z.