§ MR. NEWDEGATEsaid, he rose to ask the hon. Member for Dundalk when he intends to proceed with the Bill respecting Roman Catholic Charities, upon which the Secretary of State for the Home Department has informed the House that the hon. Member has been in communication with the Government?
§ MR. BOWYERsaid, he wished it to be distinctly understood that there had been no delay on his part. The House would 751 remember that last Session a Continuance Bill was passed, and that he pledged himself to introduce a measure to settle the matter permanently. This he did out of deference to what he believed to be the feeling of the Government and the House, although he entertained the opinion, which he still held, that any attempt to bring Roman Catholic Charities under the same jurisdiction as Protestant Charities must be met with great and perhaps insuperable difficulties. Nevertheless, he brought in a Bill at the close of last Session, with a view to the matter being considered in the recess. That Bill was prepared by an eminent conveyancer, Mr. Henry Stonor, the Chairman of the West Indian Encumbered Estates Court; and he (Mr. Bowyer) reintroduced it at the beginning of this Session. It was subsequently read the second time, and the reason why it had not been immediately committed was that, as it was a purely conveyancing Bill, depending upon legal and technical matters, he thought it desirable that its clauses should be considered calmly and quietly out of the House, and that then it should go into Committee after such changes had been made as might he settled between the Government and himself. It was, therefore, submitted to the Attorney General, who made certain suggestions which were put in the shape of clauses by Mr. Stonor, and in that form approved of by Mr. Riddel, who represented certain Roman Catholics who had petitioned the House upon the subject last year. He had learnt, however, that certain points had been since raised by other parties who had been in communication with the Attorney General. He could only say that he believed the amendments were satisfactory, and as soon as he was informed that they would be accepted by the Government, and that no fresh points were raised which it was desirahle to settle out of doors, he should be ready to proceed in Committee with the Bill.
SIR GEORGE LEWISthought the most convenient course would be to revive the Order and then for the Attorney General to give notice of such Amendments as he might think desirahle.