§ Mr. Gisbornehaving moved that it be an instruction to the Committee on the re-committed Midland Counties Railway Bill, to confine their labours to an inquiry into the merits 589 of the Northampton line, in comparison with the line proposed by the Bill—into the propriety of the raising of the line of the Kingston Level, &c.
§ Sir Samuel Whalleysaid, that he wished to make a remark or two regarding the right of voting on Railway and other Bills by those Members who might have shares therein. He did not desire to introduce the remark he had to make with any personalities, nor in the language of complaint, but only to set himself right with the House and the country; and he thought that if strict candour were extended to him, this opportunity would neither be denied nor complained of. He begged to remind the House that he was by no means the only Member who had voted on Bills in which they were personally or pecuniarily interested, but, he believed, like himself, without imagining that they were in any way acting contrary to the rules or practice of the House. There was the subject that had recently been mentioned —the coal monopoly, or the supply of coals. Had not many Members interested in that monopoly or supply voted on the Bills tending to facilitate the supply? This it was right that the House and the public should know. Again, had not one Member, having a remote interest in the question, decided the votes regarding the Kingston branch in a Railway Bill, which decision would have been the other way but for the vote of that Member, who had at least a remote interest, for he was a subscriber to the amount of 15,000l.
§ Mr. Gisborneinterrupted the hon. Member. In the instance in question the decision was by the Chairman giving the casting vote.
§ Sir Samuel Whalley—Yes; but except the hon. Member in question had voted, there would have been no occasion for the casting vote of the Chairman. He did not mention these things as matters of complaint, but to exculpate himself from having done what was contrary to the practice of the House. On the evening previously to the vote that he had given, five Directors of the Dublin Steam Packet Company had voted on a Bill regarding that Company, without any complaint being preferred; he therefore submitted, that down to the time of giving his vote, of which complaint had been made, he had no reason to believe that he was acting inconsistently with the practice of the House.
§ Motion for instruction agreed to.