§ MR. COWANsaid, he rose pursuant to notice, to ask the noble Lord the Member for Clackmannanshire (Viscount Melgund), if it still be his intention to move for a Select Committee to inquire into the operation of the Public Houses Act (Scotland) during the present Session; and if so, when he intends to submit his Motion to the House?
§ VISCOUNT MELGUNDsaid, that when he gave notice of his intention to move for a Committee he had hoped that his proposal would meet with general concurrence; but he found that there were many hon. Members who thought that though the Act had many virtues and perfections, they were of so delicate and fragile a nature that they would not endure so rough a test as a Parliamentary investigation. Under those circumstances he should not move the appointment of a Committee, but he 1857 should, on the 6th of July, draw attention to the subject.