Sir H. Fleetwoodmoved for leave to bring in a bill to limit the time of taking the poll at elections of coroners for counties, to one day, and for increasing the number of polling places.
§ Mr. Wakleysaid, that his experience showed him there were many alterations requisite to be made in the election of coroners, which might be urged without any party or political feeling of any kind. There were many excrescences to prune, and many things to add. As the proposed bill went to remove only one of the evils connected with the office, the change in itself would be nothing, unless they also specified who were to be coroners, and settled the qualification of voters. Under the circumstances, as this would only be the removal of a very trifling amount of the evils, he did hope, that the question would be left to another Session, and he promised he would employ as much industry as he could for the purpose of discovering what ought to be done with reference to the office, and give the measure every aid in another Session of Parliament.
§ Mr. Pakingtonthought the bill brought in by the hon. Baronet was by no means sufficient to meet the required alterations with regard to the election of coroners. He quite agreed with the hon. Member for Finsbury that several alterations were needed. The bill did not go nearly far enough, and it was preposterous to bring such a bill forward on such a subject.
Mr. Wynnthought there ought to be some intelligible qualification established for voters; and until that was done, it seemed quite absurd to attempt to bring in any motion.
Sir H. Fleetwoodwished first of all to have the bill brought in and printed, that it might be circulated throughout the country, and that by that means he might be enabled to receive suggestions relating to it. But if he saw no expectation of carrying the bill this Session, he would adopt the suggestion of the hon. Member for Finsbury, and withdraw it for this Session.
§ Leave given to bring in the bill.