HC Deb 07 June 1861 vol 163 cc821-2
MR. VANSITTART

moved for an Ad- dress to the Crown for copies of the Report of a Special Committee of the Council of India to the Secretary of State upon the subject of opening, upon certain conditions, the Covenanted Service of India; with dissents, if any, therefrom. The hon. Member said the answer given the previous evening by the right hon. Baronet the Secretary of State for India was most unsatisfactory, and unless he could obtain a response of a more assuring character he should be reluctantly compelled to divide the House. The right hon. Baronet had not offered any opposition to the production of papers relating to two of the Bills, and the information he now sought had reference to the third, which was regarded out of doors as the most important of these measures.

SIR CHARLES WOOD

felt it his duty to resist the Motion, which he hoped would not be pressed by the hon. Member, who had always acted in a spirit of perfect fairness and candour. The papers which he had formerly produced were despatches from, the Governor General and the Governor of Madras; but those now asked for were Reports of the Council to the Secretary of State for India, which partook of a confidential character.

SIR MINTO FARQUHAR

supported the Motion, thinking it most important that the House should have before it every paper bearing on that subject.

SIR GEORGE LEWIS

said, he opposed the Motion, as the House was not entitled by the Act to have the dissents of a Committee of the Council laid before it.

MR. SEYMOUR FITZGERALD

regarded the production of the papers as essential for the guidance of the House in forming its opinion on the Bill for regulating the Indian Civil Service.

MR. AYRTON

did not think it was usual or proper to seek to compel the Secretary of State to give those papers.

SIR JAMES FERGUSSON

thought the House was bound to insist on their production.

Motion made, and Question put, That an humble Address he presented to Her Majesty, that She will be graciously pleased to give directions that there be laid before this House, a Copy of the Report of a Special Committee of the Council of India to the Secretary of State, upon the subject of opening, upon certain conditions, the Covenanted Service of India; with dissents, if any, therefrom.

The House divided:—Ayes 28; Noes 43: Majority 15.

House adjourned at a quarter before Two o'clock till Monday next.