§ Order read, for resuming Adjourned Debate on Amendment proposed to Question [7th May], "That the Bill be recommitted to a Select Committee of Five Members to be appointed by the Committee of Selection;" and which Amendment was, after the words "Select Committee of," to insert the words "Seven Members."—(Mr. Ayrton.)
§ Question again proposed, "That those words be there inserted."
§ Debate resumed.
362§ MR. PAULLsaid, he trusted that the Amendment of the hon. and learned Gentleman (Mr. Ayrton), for adding two Members to the Select Committee of five Members to be appointed by the Committee of Selection, would not be agreed to.
§ MR. LAYARDsaid, that unless some metropolitan Member were appointed to watch over the interests of the metropolis the deliberations of the Committee could not prove satisfactory.
§ MR. ADAIRsaid, that the action of the Select Committee of five would only be embarrassed by the addition of two Gentlemen with pre-conceived opinions, half advocates, half witnesses, and entire partisans.
MR. PACKEfeared that the addition of two Members would have the effect of protracting the inquiry from weeks to months.
§ MR. WHALLEYsaid, he thought that the number should be seven.
§ MR. DODSONsaid, he could not conceive a more impartial tribunal titan a Committee of five Members carefully chosen by the Committee of Selection. The parties interested would be represented by counsel. If two more Members were appointed it should be provided, as was sometimes done, that these two should not have the power of voting.
§ MR. AYRTONsaid, that the consumers could not be represented by counsel, and therefore the Committee of five Members would be of such a character that the metropolis would not hold itself bound by its decision.
§ Question, "That the words 'Seven Members' be there inserted," put, and negatived.
§ Original Question put, and agreed to.
§ Bill re-committed to a Select Committee of Five Members to be appointed by the Committee of Selection.