§ Order for Committee read.
§ MR. WALPOLE moved that this Bill be referred to a Select Committee. He believed that that course would meet the views of hon. Members who took an interest in the matter; and that, in a Select Committee, the Bill would be put into a form which would shorten discussion and facilitate its passing through the House.
MR. LOWTHERsaid, that, as a rule, to refer a Bill to a Select Committee was to delay rather than to expedite legislation; and he therefore trusted that means would be taken to prevent the rule being verified in this case.
§ MR. BENTINCKthought it wise to refer the Bill to a Select Committee, a course which would expedite the result hoped for by all who wished well to the schools.
§ VISCOUNT ENFIELDasked, whether it was intended to take evidence?
§ MR. NEWDEGATEsaid, it would be necessary to take evidence, because in some respects the scheme was founded upon misapprehensions. The Commissioners had not taken sufficient trouble to inquire into the foundation of Rugby School. It was founded for all the children of Rugby, and not for the poor children of that place; and the earliest records showed that the children of the gentry availed themselves of its advantages. There was another charity in the town, founded exclusively for the poor children. He could see no sense in the provision that, if the Committee did not act, the Commissioners should be enabled to do so without giving notice. He intended to ask that a clause should be introduced into the Bill to the effect that the privileges of day scholars should not be abrogated, his object being to preserve the privileges enjoyed by the residents of Rugby and conferred by the benevolence of the founder. He was glad that the Bill was about to be sent to a Select Committee, and he hoped that Committee would be empowered to take evidence.
§ MR. AYRTONthought it would be unnecessary to add any further evidence to that contained in the blue books. Anything that the Commissioners might have omitted would in all probability be found in the bulky appendices.
§ MR. NEATEsaid, that the proposal to refer the Bill to a Select Committee originated with him. He thought it desirable to adopt that course, because if the Bill were subjected to a general discussion in the House there was little chance of its passing.
§ MR. WALPOLEconcurred with the hon. and learned Member for the Tower Hamlets that enough evidence had been already taken; but of course the Select Committee could, if it thought fit, apply to the House for permission to take further evidence.
§ Order discharged: Bill committed to a Select Committee.
§ And, on March 26, Committee nominated as follows:—Mr. AYRTON, Mr. BENYON, Mr. CAVENDISH BENTINCK, Mr. CARDWELL, Mr. CLEMENT, Mr. GRANT DUFF, Viscount ENFIELD, Mr. DARBY GRIFFITH, Mr. NEVILLE-GRENVILLE, Mr. WILLIAM EDWARD FORSTER, Mr. GOSCHEN, Sir WILLIAM HEATHCOTE, Mr. HOWES, Mr. MOWBRAY, Mr. NEATE, Sir STAFFORD NORTHCOTE, Mr. POWELL, Mr. STONE, and Mr. WALPOLE:—Five to be the quorum.