§ SIR RAINALD KNIGHTLEYsaid, that on a former occasion the right hon. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer stated that if the House should be of opinion that it would not be convenient to couple legislation on this subject with the measure of the Government relating to the franchise and the re-distribution of seats, he would personally undertake in a separate Bill for dealing with it on the very same night. No doubt the right hon. Gentleman had unintentionally and inadvertently violated the letter of the pledge which he then gave. He wished therefore to ask him, Whether he was prepared to redeem the spirit of that pledge by introducing a Bill for the prevention of Bribery and Corruption at Elections; and when he intended to do so?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERI hope to be able to lay the Bill on the table before the holydays. I cannot exactly say on what day.
§ SIR RAINALD KNIGHTLEYWill it not be before the second reading of the Representation of the People Bill?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERI have made inquiries, and I find that that would be impossible.