§ MR. FERRANDsaid, he rose to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether he will pledge himself to withdraw the sixteenth clause, disfranchising the S dockyard electors, in the event of the Representation of the People Bill being read a second time?
THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERSir, I am sorry to be obliged to apply in this instance a rule which it has been found necessary to apply in others. I think it would be premature, and only lead to inconvenience and confusion, if at this time, before the second reading of the Franchise Bill, I were to give any answer with respect to any particular clause. But I there is the less occasion for doing that in this particular instance, as two hon. Members—if I am not mistaken, the hon. Member for Portsmouth (Mr. Serjeant Gaselee) and the hon. Member for Chatham (Mr. Otway)—have both been so far beforehand with the hon. Gentleman that they have given notice to raise this question at a very early stage. I would say, however, that I am extremely glad to infer from the Question of the hon. Gentleman what appears to be the natural construction of it, that if we would withdraw that clause alluded to he would have no remaining objection to vote for the second reading.