QUESTION. (Hansard, 8 June 1868)

§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER

Since my hon. Friend put the Question the other night we have had full opportunity of considering the matter, and we have come to the conclusion that it will be our duty to propose to the House to vote the Supplies for the whole year, And I think that I shall be able to show that if this course be not adopted considerable inconvenience—I will not say to the Government, but to the House and the public 1224 service—if not embarrassment, will arise My hon. Friend when he put the Question the other night quoted what he deemed, the precedent of 1841. Now, I think, after hearing the observations which I have to make, he will be bound to admit, first of all, that the supposed precedent I is not applicable; and secondly, that if it were, it would not point to the conclusion which he has suggested—namely, to take the Votes for nine months. Now, what was the case in 1841? It was this—the Government proposed to take Supplies for six months, and the Leader of the Opposition acquiesced in that course, though at first he suggested that they should be taken for three months. Early in June the Supplies were granted for four months from the time when a dissolution was possible, and to last for two months after the new Parliament could meet again. Now, supposing the suggestion made from the opposite Bench were adopted—namely, that Supply should be granted for nine months—that would not be granting Supply until four months from the time a dissolution could occur, or two months after the new Parliament could properly assemble. Therefore, if the precedent were applicable, it would not point to the: conclusion of my hon. Friend and others; but, further, I would submit that the precedent is not applicable. What was the case in 1841? The House of Commons passed, by a majority of 1, the following Resolution:— That Her Majesty's Ministers do not sufficiently possess the confidence of the House of Commons to enable them to carry through the House measures which they deem of essential I importance to the public welfare; and that their continuance in office, under such circumstances, is at variance with the spirit of the Constitution."I—[See 3 Hansard, lviii.] No such Resolution, or anything approaching to it, has been passed by the present House of Commons. It is true the Government has been defeated on a very important question of policy by a large majority; but, so far from the House of Commons having in consequence of that proceeding thought fit to pass a Vote of Want of Confidence, it has been with the acquiescence of the House that the Government has proceeded with other measures of importance in order to enable it to appeal to the new constituencies as soon as possible. Now, what has been the result of our proceeding on that understanding? Why, that it has been impossible for us to have an immediate dissolution, unless we were to 1225 cause a great amount of inconvenience, and without being able to appeal to the new constituencies as we wish, Therefore, we have deferred recommending the Crown to dissolve the present Parliament until the appeal could be made to the new constituencies. The state of things is this. A Reform Bill has been passed for England, but the sequel to it, the Boundary Bill, has not yet been passed, and measures for amending the representation in Scotland and Ireland are still in progress. Now, with regard to England alone, it is clear that there can be no complete registration of the new constituencies until the; passing of the Boundary Bill, for persons will not know for what constituency they, are to claim. I do not know whether hon. Members have studied the subject of registration as much as it has been my lot to do. Three years ago I succeeded in carrying a measure amending county registration, and I therefore paid considerable attention to the matter. I was in communication with gentlemen in all parts of the country as to the alterations which were required, and the chief demand that was made was that more time should be allowed for the different processes of registration. Under the existing law the 20th of July is the day for sending in claims for county votes. Now, until the Boundary Bill is passed persons living in counties which have been subdivided by the Bill of last year will not know for which division they should claim. Moreover, I think it will be universally admitted that the process of registration is one which ought not to be unduly hurried, for it would be a farce to extend electoral privileges so widely as we have done and then not to allow persons a sufficient opportunity of claiming those privileges. It is of the greatest importance that there should be ample time for making claims, and on the other hand there ought to be a full opportunity for criticizing those claims, so that persons not duly qualified may be objected to. There is first the action of the parish officers to be brought into operation, next the action of the Revising Barristers, and lastly there is the printing. Now, it is evident to those acquainted with the subject that, whatever effort may be made to expedite the registration, it can only be done to a very limited extent. I can assure the House that it is the earnest desire of the Government that it should be expedited as much as is consistent with the convenience of 1226 the electors and of those concerned in the registration; but there seems to me no reasonable probability of the new Parliament being able to meet, except for a very short period, before Christmas. Now, hon. Members are aware that, owing to the forms of the House, a good many days must elapse after the assembling of Parliament before we can go into Committee of Supply, and I think that, supposing everything favourable—supposing the Boundary Bill and the Irish and Scotch Reform Bills passed without any undue delay, and supposing the House to accept the Registration Bill which my right hon. Friend (Mr. Gathorne Hardy) is to introduce on Thursday—I may say, without fear of contradiction, that it would be what in common parlance is called rather fine steering to find time before Christmas, after the Members had been sworn in, and after the debate, which may be expected to be a rather lengthy one, on the Address, to go into Committee and vote the rest of the Supplies. But suppose, unfortunately, we are not able to pass these, supplementary measures in sufficient time to allow the registration to commence on the 20th of July, it is obvious that, in order to allow persons proper time for sending in claims, the date for their doing so must be postponed, and, even though there should be no considerable postponement, I am inclined to think—though I give no decided opinion on the point—that the new Parliament could not meet before Christmas. In that event, which I sincerely hope may not occur, it; might be necessary for the present Parliament to be called together before Christmas for a supplementary Session in order to vote the rest of the Supplies. Now, let me put another case. Suppose that, as I have no doubt is confidently anticipated by hon. Gentlemen opposite, on the meeting of the now Parliament a Vote of Want of Confidence or something tantamount to it should be passed leading to a change of Government, considerable time I must obviously elapse before the new arrangements were completed, and much embarrassment might arise if the Supplies had been voted only up to the end of the third quarter. Moreover, I would ask with reference to the hon. Member's suggestion, Cui bono? In 1841 Sir Robert Peel expressed himself perfectly satisfied I with the assurance of Lord John Russell that the new Parliament would be called together as early as possible, and inter- 1227 posed no difficulty in the granting of the Supplies for the time asked for by the Ministry; and why, I would ask, should the frank and honourable course taken on that occasion be departed from now? I do not know whether it is suggested that Her Majesty's Government are anxious to postpone the meeting of the new Parliament. I can assure hon. Gentlemen opposite that there exists on this Bench a longing—I may say a burning desire—to ask for the verdict of the new Parliament and of the country upon our conduct and policy. The position that we have occupied on these Benches has been one rather too much for human nature to bear; and everything that can be done will be done by the Government in order to expedite the elections and the meeting of the new Parliament, so that we may be either confirmed in our tenure of Office, and may feel that we carry on the administration of public affairs with the confidence of Parliament and the country, or else that we may retire from a position which, as I have said, has been almost intolerable. With regard to the Votes of Supply already taken, the Government have no wish to press the Report, but think it fair that the House should thoroughly understand our proposals as to the registration. I would therefore propose that the Report should be postponed for a week, that in the meantime the House may have an opportunity of judging the proposals of my right hon. friend (the Home Secretary) with regard to the registration.