HC Deb 20 June 1856 vol 142 cc1770-1

Order for Second Reading read.

MR. BENTINCK

said, it was the intention of many hon. Members to oppose this Bill on the second reading and to object to its being referred to a Select Committee. He, therefore, suggested that it would be better that the noble Lord (Viscount Palmerston) should appoint some day for the second reading, when the discussion would certainly be taken, since hon. Members on his side of the House were put to great inconvenience from these repeated postponements.

SIR JOHN BULLER

was not opposed to the principle of the Bill, but submitted to the noble Lord that it would be desirable to abandon it for the present Session. Country Gentlemen were obliged to attend at great inconvenience whenever it was on the paper, and if it were referred to a Select Committee their report could not be laid on the table in time for the House to pronounce a satisfactory decision on it, as it would no doubt be so altered that it would be in effect a new measure.

MR. KNIGHTLEY

also urged the postponement of the Bill until next Session.

SIR JOHN TROLLOPE

said, the Select Committee would not be appointed before the week after next, and then the Gentlemen who represented the agricultural interest would not be able to give it their assistance, as they would be obliged to leave town to attend to the quarter sessions and the assizes. He hoped the noble Lord would consent to the withdrawal of the Bill for this Session, and that he would next Session introduce a measure more palatable to the country.

MR. DEEDES

said, that although by no means unfavourable to the principle of the Bill, he felt bound to press upon the noble Lord the utter impossibility of its being fairly considered at that late period of the Session.

VISCOUNT PALMERSTON

I assure the House that the Government very much regret the inconvenience to which hon. Gentlemen are put by the necessity of postponing from time to time a Bill in which so many of them take an interest, but I think it was arranged that the Bill was not to be taken to-night later than half-past Ten o'clock. The measure is one which deserves the serious consideration of the House, and all I can at present say with regard to its postponement is, that we will fix it for Friday evening, when I hope we shall be able to come to some agreement on the subject.

MR. TATTON EGERTON

said, the statement of the noble Lord was not at all satisfactory. As a supporter of the Bill he urged the noble Lord to withdraw it, and reintroduce it and refer it to a Select Committee at the beginning of next Session.

COLONEL GILPIN

said, no measure of this kind would be satisfactory to the country if founded upon the compulsory principle.

MR. FELLOWES

objected to the postponement of the Bill from day to day and also urged its withdrawal until next Session.

VISCOUNT PALMERSTON

I see clearly that great difference of opinion exists with regard to this measure, and, perhaps, therefore, there is not much chance of our arriving at any useful result in the matter during the present Session. I think the question is one which ought to be considered by a Committee, and, perhaps, the shortest way of disposing of it will be to say, that I shall propose a Committee upon it at the beginning of next Session.

Order discharged.

Bill withdrawn.

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