§ Mr. Labouchere, on moving (in compliance with a resolution of the Committee) "that leave be given to the Chairman of the Select Committee on combination of workmen to communicate such parts of the evidence taken before them, and to such persons, as he may deem necessary," observed, that the subject of the publication of evidence taken before Committees of that House, deserved the earliest and most serious consideration. At present, there existed no general rule for their guidance, and it often happened, that much inconvenience arose from a partial publication of the evidence, and sometimes from no publication of it at all.
§ Sir R. Peelquite agreed with the right hon. Gentleman, that great inconvenience oftentimes arose from ex parte evidence being published; for although the parties to whom the evidence was furnished might be enjoined not to communicate it to others, yet, if they did so, neither the Committee, nor that House had any control over them whatever.
§ The Speakersaid, that this was a subject of very great importance, and one which it was necessary, that the House should take into consideration early next Session, and distinctly state what were the rules, that ought to be established. If this were not done the House would be infallibly driven to this alternative, either, that all evidence must become public, or, in order to obviate that evil, they must make a much greater number of secret Committees—a practice to be, if possible, avoided. The House, he thought, would fall into a very great error if it did not early next Session, and before any Committees were appointed, lay down some rule upon this subject.
§ Mr. Laboucheresaid, that he had made this motion as the Chairman of the Committee, and by their direction. He entirely agreed with the right hon. Baronet, that the publication of ex parte evidence was a proceeding which required the ut- 483 most caution before it was resorted to, and that it ought not to be left with the committee to be adopted or not according to their own opinions or notions. As an instance of the present loose practice upon this subject, he would mention a circumstance, that had occurred to himself. He was the Chairman of the Committee which sat last year on the West-India negro apprenticeship system. A great deal of ex parte evidence was taken before that Committee, and which in consequence of its containing attacks upon individuals the Committee did not think proper to lay before the House. But notwithstanding this the Committee directed him as Chairman, but against his own individual opinion and vote, to send a copy of such evidence to the parties attacked, and who were living at Jamaica, under an injunction, that they were not to communicate it to others. The hon. Gentleman concluded by saying, that after what bad passed, he should withdraw his motion.
§ Sir R. Peeldid not think, that the practice of printing evidence for the use of the Members of the committee was an unmixed good, inasmuch as it gave the Members an inducement not to attend the meetings of the committee, because they consoled themselves with thinking, that they should have an opportunity of reading the evidence—a duty which he was afraid, was not always very strictly performed.
§ Motion withdrawn.