§ MR. T. DUNCOMBEwished to put two questions to the noble Lord at the head of the Government. The first was, whether it was the intention of Her Majesty's Government to introduce during the present Session a measure on the subject of church rates? The second question was one of more importance, because with regard to church rates people were taking the remedy into their own hands, and there was an unwillingness to enforce the law. The other question related to the Corrupt Practices Prevention Act. That Bill was passed for a year, and until the end of the Session next thereafter. It was renewed for another year and for the Session afterwards. The latter Session had now arrived, and if anything should terminate the Session abruptly, corruption and 678 bribery would be held under very pre-carious and slender control. He wished to know whether Her Majesty's Government intended to refer the subject to a Select Committee, or whether they would bring in a Bill to improve that bungling Act?
§ VISCOUNT PALMERSTONWith regard to the first question of the hon. Gentleman, Her Majesty's Government hope to be able to lay before Parliament during the present Session a measure on the subject of church rates. Of course, I cannot make any positive engagement on the subject, because it will depend upon the state of public business. With regard to the second question put to me by my hon. Friend, we stated last year that we proposed to continue the Act for another year instead of at once appointing an Election Committee to consider the subject, because we imagined, as the election petitions were then about to be presented, that the decisions and investigations of the Election Committees would throw a light on the matter, and that it would he better to postpone until the present Session the appointment of a Committee to consider what alterations ought to be made in that Act. Of course we shall carry that intention into execution, and when Parliament meets again I shall be ready to propose the appointment of a Committee to consider the working of the Act. With regard to the contingency of an appeal to the country, to which my hon. Friend has alluded, we hope after what has passed in this House we shall be relieved from that necessity.
§ SIR JOHN TRELAWNYthought that after the answer given by the noble Lord on the question of church rates, it was hopeless to expect any measure on the subject from the present Government. For the last two years they had been making promises on the subject, and so far from having fulfilled them the pledge just given by the noble Lord was much less binding than his promise of last Session. The question had been before the country since 1833, and last Session it had given rise to great debates in that House, and had been referred to a Select Committee. The matter was, therefore, quite ripe for settlement. The noble Lord should at once say what horse he intended to name as winner. If he were the head of a Conservative party, let him say so; if of a Liberal party, let him declare it. 679 He had a large majority, and he ought to come forward like a man, and not suppose that the country was going to be gulled in the way that the noble Lord's treatment of church rates would seem to indicate. The House was laughed at, and the people of the country treated like children.