§ Order for Second Reading read.
§ In reply to Mr. HOPWOOD,
SIR GEORGE LEWISsaid, the Act now in force was dependent on the accidental duration of another Parliament, and the object of the present Bill was to continue it for some fixed period next year.
§ MR. P. W. MARTINsaid, the Act had entailed a great amount of inconvenience and trouble, while it had made the fate of candidates before the Election Committee a perfect lottery. He hoped this would be the last Continuance Bill submitted to the House, and that next year the whole subject would undergo consideration.
§ MR. DEEDESsaid, the present law gave satisfaction neither in nor out of the House.
SIR GEORGE LEWISwas ready to accede to the appointment of a Select Committee on the subject if the course were considered desirable.
§ MR. EDWIN JAMESbelieved that the House would never be thought sincere in its wish for purity at elections until it required from every Member a declaration on oath that he had neither directly nor indirectly incurred other than legitimate expenses.
§ MR. MALINS, while admitting the imperfections in the Bill, believed, nevertheless, that it afforded to candidates a great protection against inordinate expenditure. He concurred with his hon. and learned Friend in the necessity of requiring Members to declare that they had not by themselves or their agents been guilty of bribery.
§ Bill read 2°.