§ MR. KNATCHBULL-HUGESSENsaid, he rose to call the attention of the 363 Government to the subject of the establishment of County Financial Boards, and to ask whether it is their intention to introduce any measure upon the subject next Session. It would be in the recollection of the House that a measure on this subject was introduced in a former Parliament by Mr. Milner Gibson, and the noble Lord now at the head of the Government, then Home Secretary, said—
That the House had frequently considered a representation for the administration of county affairs, and having repeatedly affirmed the proposition, he was prepared to say that, at the beginning of the next Session of Parliament, the Government would introduce a measure upon the subject.He (Mr. Knatchbull-Hugessen) did not presume to find fault with the noble Lord for not keeping his promise, because a great national object had prevented it. He should be glad to know whether or not it was the intention of the Government to introduce a Bill in the next Session of Parliament upon this subject.
§ VISCOUNT PALMERSTONsaid, it was quite true that, at one time, it was the intention of the Government to propose a measure of the character mentioned by the hon. Gentleman, but the Bill brought in by Mr. Milner Gibson on the subject met with such great difficulty in the House, and led to so much difference of opinion with regard to the manner in which such Boards should be constituted, and the Government had found so much difficulty in reconciling conflicting opinions on the question, so as to afford a fair prospect of carrying such a Bill, that they had not been able to fulfil their intention. With regard to next Session, he was not aware that the Government could hold out any expectation that they could see their way sufficiently to justify him in saying it was the intention of the Government to introduce a Bill.