HC Deb 23 May 1856 vol 142 cc614-6

On Motion that the Order for Second Reading be now read,

MR. BOUVERIE

said that, as strong objections had been taken to some of the principal clauses of the Bill, he would not ask the House to read it a second time, but would move that the order should be discharged, with the view of bringing in a new Bill with the parochial clauses amended.

MR. HENLEY

thought the House had some reason to complain, that no notice had been given of the course intended to be pursued by the right hon. Gentleman. Up to seven o'clock that evening he had received no intimation of his intention, and then he heard of it by the merest chance. At the same time, no one who was in the House last Monday night, when the Motion for the second reading was so pertinaciously persisted in by the right hon. Gentleman, and who knew anything of the merits of the Bill, could regret the step which had now been taken. He was satisfied for his own part that the right hon. Gentleman had exercised a wise discretion in withdrawing the Bill.

MR. BOUVERIE

So far from thinking that he was open to censure for the course he had pursued, he submitted that he had been outrageously goodnatured in his attempts to meet the wishes of hon. Gentlemen.

VISCOUNT GALWAY

expressed the hope that the right hon. Gentleman would not confine his Amendments to the parochial clauses of the Bill, but would likewise make an alteration in the 28th clause, which transferred the election of district auditor from the chairman and vice-chairman of each board of guardians to the Poor Law Board.

SIR GEORGE PECHELL

did not object to the withdrawal of the Bill, to which he was strongly opposed, but complained of the manner in which the House had been treated by the President of the Poor Law Board. On Monday night, or rather at an early hour on Tuesday morning last, the right hon. Gentleman pressed the House to read the Bill a second time, on the ground that there was no principle in it. Looking at the way in which the Bill had been framed and introduced, he was disposed to say that there was no principle either in the Poor Law Board or in the right hon. Gentleman himself; and he begged to inform the noble Lord at the head of the Government that, if he allowed his subordinates to extend the pernicious system of centralisation, he would speedily find himself deprived of his usual supporters.

MR. MALINS

also rejoiced at the withdrawal of the Bill, and would recommend the right hon. Gentleman, if he introduced another, not to submit to the House any provisions at all similar to those of the present Bill, for he would not have the smallest chance of carrying them. He regretted that the right hon. Gentleman had not given earlier intimation of his intention to withdraw the Bill. He had waited there the whole evening, expecting that the Motion for the second reading would be brought on, because he felt anxious to protect the interests of the society of Lincoln's-inn, upon which the Bill proposed to impose a tax of several hundred pounds per annum, by annexing it to the adjoining parish of St. Andrew's, Holborn. But the right hon. Gentleman had shown "the better part of valour," by withdrawing the Bill, and he would do well not to attempt to introduce another of the same kind.

Order for Second Reading read and discharged, and leave given to present another Bill, instead thereof.