HC Deb 15 February 1858 vol 148 cc1368-9
MR. LABOUCHERE

I hope, Sir, the House will allow me to take this opportunity of correcting a misconception which has gone forth to the public upon an important point, with respect to the answer which I gave the other day to the hon. and learned Gentleman the Member for Sheffield (Mr. Roebuck) on his putting a question to me with regard to the affairs of the Hudson's Bay Company. I am represented to have stated in answer to that question that it was the intention of Her Majesty's Government forthwith to take into their hands the whole of the territory now administered by the Hudson's Bay Company. What I did say was, that it was the intention of Her Majesty's Government to take immediate steps for taking under their control, and constituting as a British colony in the ordinary manner, the Island of Vancouver. I did not state that it was the intention of Her Majesty's Government to take the entire territory governed by the Hudson's Bay Company. With regard to that question, I merely said that if the hon. and learned Gentleman would move for the papers relating to it they would show exactly what steps Her Majesty's Government intended to take. My answer with regard to the Government taking control into their hands immediately was entirely confined to the Island of Vancouver.

MR. ROEBUCK

Sir, I shall advert to that point to-morrow, and I can only regret that the right hon. Gentleman has been misrepresented.