COMMITTEE OF SELECTION. (Hansard, 12 February 1866)

MR. SCOURFIELD
said, it was generally admitted that the present power was insufficient to cope with the private business of the House. There were two modes by either of which the difficulty might be met. One was, strengthening the machinery; the other, lessening the amount of the work. He was of opinion that the private business had increased in consequence of the Rules of the House not having been strictly observed. If hon. Members examined the Bills now being promoted, they would find that a number of them were continuance Bills; they would find that Bills had been granted to parties who were unable to carry them out; and they would also find that Bills were being promoted this Session to repeal parts of Bills passed last Session. A recurrence of such a state of things might be prevented in a great measure if the rules relating to private Bills were rigidly enforced. If the House did not agree with him as to the expediency of applying that remedy, there was the alternative of more powerful machinery. He thought the matter was one deserving the attention of his hon. and gallant Friend (Colonel Wilson Patten) and of the House.

§ COLONEL WILSON PATTEN
observed, that it was quite impossible to look at the list of Private Bills before the House without feeling that, in the present Session, there would be very great difficulty in dealing with private business. He did not think they should take any other than the usual course in proceeding with the Bills; but, seeing that there were 633 Private Bills to be disposed of, he thought it was for the Speaker's consideration whether one Court before which these Bills came ought not to be strengthened—he alluded to the Court of Referees. He believed it must be admitted that this Court had saved the time of hon. Members during last Session; and as there were at present in the House nearly 200 Members inexperienced in the transaction of private business, he asked whether a second Court of Referees ought not to be appointed to sit at the same time with the other. It was customary with the Committee of Selection to send out circulars inquiring of hon. Members at what period of the Session it would be most convenient for them to give their services on Committees. He would request of hon. Members to send in their 344 replies to those circulars at the earliest possible time.

§ MR. WALPOLE
said, he could not but think that the suggestion of the hon. and gallant Gentleman was well worthy of consideration, regard being had to the state of the private business. He must say, however, that increasing the numbers of the Referees would be virtually doing that which, though it had been more than once recommended, the House had not sanctioned—namely, taking the Private Bills out of the hands of the House. If this should be done, and those Bills handed over to other tribunals, he thought there ought to be a more general measure. He thought that during the present Session they must go on as usual; but the matter ought to be attentively considered in time for next Session.

§ MR. SANDFORD
said, he must remind the House that with the view of facilitating the despatch of private business the number of Members on Committees had been reduced last Session.

ADMIRAL DUNCOMBE
said, that he, for one, thought that the House was fully competent to discharge its own business. Last Session he was so struck with the alarm expressed on the subject of Private Bills that he went to his hon. and gallant Friend (Colonel Wilson Patten) and said that, in order to facilitate business, he was ready to serve twice during the Session; but instead of any such additional service having been required of him, he had not been called upon to serve even once.