§ MR. W. LOWTHERsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether his attention has been called to a draft of Bill to consolidate, with Amendments, the Acts relating to Friendly Societies; whether it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to legislate on the question of Friendly Societies; whether Her Majesty's Government intend to adopt any of the suggestions contained in that draft of Bill; and, whether they will recommend issuing a Royal Commission upon the subject?
MR. BRUCESir, I do not think the suggestions to which the hon. Gentleman refers are such as the Government could adopt. With respect to the Question whether it is the intention of the Government to legislate on the subject, I beg to state that they have at this moment under consideration the point whether they should proceed to amend the law by way of legislation, or whether they should institute a preliminary inquiry by way of Royal Commission.