HC Deb 27 May 1853 vol 127 cc714-5
MR. BRIGHT

said, he wished to ask the noble Lord at the head of the Government a question with regard to the Registration of Assurances Bill. He had received on Thursday night, and again that evening, a message by telegraph from persons at Manchester who were concerned in the land and building societies there. Whole streets, in fact some of the suburbs of Manchester, had been built by building societies, and the anxiety there with regard to this Bill appeared to be extreme. He understood that not less than 6,000 or 7,000 of the electors of Manchester were concerned in those societies, and what they desired was this—to be informed whether the Bill was to be read a second time pro formâ, and referred to a Select Committee; and, if so, whether they would be permitted to give evidence with regard to its operation upon those particular societies and other societies that were concerned in small transactions in land and building?

LORD JOHN RUSSELL

said, the Bill referred to had been introduced in the House of Lords, and was founded on the reports of several Commissions that had been appointed to inquire into this subject. Those inquiries had been made by persons most competent to deal with the matter. What he now proposed was, that the Bill should be read a second time that evening, and then referred to a Select Committee, who would go through every clause, as the hon. Gentleman was aware; and it would be necessary that the Bill should come back to the House, and be submitted to the consideration of a Committee of the whole House. He (Lord J. Russell) thought it would be very inconvenient, after so much evidence had been already taken on the subject, to take any further evidence before the Select Committee. If the hon. Gentleman would suggest to those who had communicated with him on this subject the desirableness of presenting their views to the House in the shape of a petition, he (Lord J. Russell) would have no objection to such petition being referred to the consideration of the Select Committee.

MR. BRIGHT

believed that a deputation from the Manchester building societies was already on its way to London, and he thought they ought to be permitted to be examined before the Select Committee.

SIR FITZROY KELLY

asked whether the noble Lord intended to move the Select Committee before the discussion took place on the Income Tax Bill? Was there to be any discussion on that Motion, or was the matter to be proceeded with simply pro formâ?

MR. HADFIELD

said, he had presented five petitions from parties whose interests in land and building societies amounted to 850,000l; and these parties thought it was of great importance that their evidence should be received by the Committee.

LORD JOHN RUSSELL

What I propose is not to enter upon any discussion on the Bill, but simply to move the second reading of the Bill, in order that it may be referred to a Select Committee. The whole question will, of course, in that case, be considered by the Committee.