HC Deb 03 July 1856 vol 143 cc305-6

Order for Committee read.

Motion made and Question proposed, "That Mr. Speaker do now leave the chair."

MR. HADFIELD

said, he should move that the Committee be deferred for three months. The Acts of Parliament on the subject amounted to nineteen in number; and so complicated and confused were they, that consolidation was out of the question. It was impossible, therefore, that at that hour of the night (half-past eleven o'clock) the House could give the matter the consideration it required; but there was, in his opinion, quite enough on the face of the present Bill to show that it was not calculated to effect the object that he, and those who thought with him, desired. The Commission had now been in existence thirty-eight years, and the legislation connected with it had, as he had just mentioned, got into such inextricable confusion that it was perfectly impossible to reduce it to any order or system. He had the strongest possible objection to the continuance of the Commission, which cost the country annually a large sum of money, without producing any adequate advantage.

Amendment proposed, to leave out from the word "That" to the end of the Question, in order to add the words "this House will, upon this day three months, resolve itself into the said Committee," instead thereof.

SIR GEORGE GREY

said, he thought that some misapprehension was entertained with respect to the Bill. Its object was to give effect to the Church-Building Acts, and to enable the Church-Building Commission to carry out its powers. It was intended originally that the Commission should be continued for ten years; but, in deference to the wishes that had been expressed on the subject, the Government had consented to a shorter period. The object of the Bill was with a view to the execution of powers and the performance of duties which were necessary to be performed under the Church-Building Acts. The hon. Gentleman seemed to think that there was only a very small sum in the hands of the Commission; but the funds remaining to be distributed amounted to £18,000, part of which was conditionally granted, it was true. Then there were sums repayable to the Commission, and there were many powers vested in the Commission. It was a question whether it would not be desirable to consolidate the Church-Building with the Ecclesiastical Commission, in order to avoid the continuance of the Church-Building Commission under existing Acts, and thus do away with a multiplicity of Commissions.

Question put, "That the words proposed to be left out stand part of the Question."

The House divided:—Ayes 159; Noes 9: Majority 150.

Main Question put, and agreed to.

Bill considered in Committee.

The House resumed.

Bill reported without Amendment.

The House adjourned at a quarter after One o'clock.