MR. HUMEsaid, he would take the liberty of asking the right hon. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether it was the intention of Her Majesty's Government to introduce any measure for the Extension of the Franchise, the Protection of the Voters, and the Equalisation of the number of Electors to the number of Representatives?
§ The CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER, rising with the hon. Member's question in his hand, said: Mr. Speaker, whenever "it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to introduce any measure for the Extension of the Franchise, the Protection of the Voters, and the Equalisation of the number of Electors to the number of Representatives," they will think it consistent with their duty to give a formal notice to the House of that intention; but it would not be respectful to the House, that any intimation of such an intention on their part should be first made 822 to the country in answer to a mere inquiry coming to us from a private Member, without any more formal notice than I have received to-night.
§ MR. MILNER GIBSONIs it the intention of the Government to submit to Parliament the same measure which they introduced at the close of the last Session, for allocating the four seats now vacant to new constituencies, and which measure the Government then considered to be one of great urgency?
§ The CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERI consider that question also to be a portion of the great subject of "progressive reform," and I prefer giving a more formal notice of the intentions of the Government than that which is to be elicited under the circumstances which have just taken place.