HC Deb 10 March 1862 vol 165 cc1280-2

MR. MILNER GIBSON moved, that the name of Mr. POTTER be added to the Select Committee on this Bill.

Motion agreed to.

MR. CRAWFORD moved that Mr. MOFFATT be added to the Committee.

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That Mr. Moffatt be added to the said Committee."

MR. ROEBUCK

said, he objected to the number of the Committee being increased, and he should therefore oppose the Motion. It would have been churlish on his part to refuse compliance with the request of the President of the Board of Trade, who had shown a most temperate and conciliatory spirit. But to enlarge the Committee unnecessarily would embarrass its operations; and the appointment now proposed was further objectionable because it introduced the element of personal interests, which must be productive of disagreeable controversies.

MR. MILNER GIBSON

said, he had originally put the name of Mr. Moffatt down as a Member of the Committee, because he represented the interests of the vendors, who had made him their mouthpiece; and vendors were much interested in the question of trade marks, because they might innocently sell goods which had fraudulent trade marks upon them He had afterwards taken off the name of Mr. Moffatt, because an hon. Gentleman behind him, who made a speech against the Bill, wished to be upon the Committee. As a general rule, he concurred with the hon. Member for Sheffield that it was un-desirable to enlarge Committees, but he thought Mr. Moffatt might fairly be regarded as representing the interests of vendors.

MR. SOTHERON ESTCOURT

said, he thought that the proposed was not a convenient mode of forming a Committee. If the hon. and learned Gentleman objected to the name, he should support him.

VISCOUNT PALMERSTON

said, it was true that, as a general principle, it was not advisable to add to the original number of a Committee, but it must be admitted that Mr. Moffatt would be a valuable addition. He hoped that the hon. and learned Gentleman would not divide the House.

MR. ROEBUCK

Why break the agreement?

MR. MILNER GIBSON

said, he thought that he had suggested to his hon. and learned Friend that it might be desirable to add other Members to the Committee.

MR. FRANK CROSSLEY

said, he should support the addition of the hon. Member for Honiton to the Committee.

MR. KINNAIRD

recommended the adjournment of the debate.

SIR GEORGE LEWIS

said, that as there was not a sufficient number of Members present to make a House, he would move that the debate should be adjourned.

MR. ROEBUCK

said, that when his right hon. Friend wished Mr. Potter's name to be put on the Committee, he said to him (Mr. Roebuck) that he had better put another name on, in order to balance that of Mr. Potter. He (Mr. Roebuck) replied that it would be better not to do that, for he had no objection to Mr. Potter.

MR. MILNER GIBSON

said, he left the hon. Member under the impression that there would be no obstacle, if desirable, to add another Member or two to the Committee.

Debate adjourned till Thursday.

House adjourned at a quarter after Eight o'clock.