COLONIAL PASSENGERS (Hansard, 20 May 1842)

§ Mr. Hawes
expressed a hope that a measure of so much importance would not be pressed in a House so thinly attended.

Lord Stanley
said, the objection to this measure was confined to one particular clause, on which it would be equally competent for the hon. Member to raise a discussion when the bill was passing through a future stage. As he had given notice last Friday that this measure would be proceeded with to-night immediately after the estimates were disposed of, he could not think of again deferring it.

§ Mr. Hawes
would in that case give notice of his intention to move, "that the objectionable clause be struck out "on the third reading.

§ Mr. Wakley
must enter a complaint regarding the order in which the business of the evening was taken. No one had any opportunity of knowing what bill was to be dealt with next, and really, when so many important questions were to be considered, it was quite necessary that some little notice should be given. The right hon. Baronet at the head of the Government had promised to obviate this evil, but he had done nothing towards the fulfilment of his pledge. The last Government had regularly laid a paper on the Table containing a list of the bills in the order in which they were to be taken, and the practice had been found to be most convenient. With respect to the measure before the House, he hoped that as the bill otherwise met with approbation, the 583 noble Lord the Secretary for the Colonies would withdraw the objectionable clause respecting the Hill Coolies. If a measure such as that embodied in the clause was to be introduced at all, it ought not to be embodied in a bill of this sort, but should be made a matter of separate legislation.

Lord Stanley
said, the importance of the clause in question appeared to be overrated. It gave no new powers whatever. Its object was simply to give the Governor-general, by an act of British legislation, an authority which he already possessed by an act of colonial legislation, and of consequence to make that which was even now an offence against Indian law an offence against the law of Great Britain.

§ Sir R. Peel
said, that with respect to the observations of the hon. Member for Finsbury, he had every wish to give full notice of the order in which business would be proceeded with. He thought, however, it had been well understood that to-night the ordnance and navy estimates would be first taken, and that the Colonial Passengers' Bill would be dealt with immediately after. Having fixed these three measures he thought he had cut out enough Work for one night's legislation, especially as his experience of late had shown that they were not usually so rapid in bringing their discussions to a close. He had, however, been agreeably disappointed to-night, and in future he would take care that they should have more orders provided for their consideration, in the hope that they would follow up so good a beginning.
Report reconsidered and agreed to with amendments. Bill to be read a third time.