§ MR. BROGDENasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether the Select Committee on the Master and Servant (Wages) Bill will receive evidence; and, if not, why not?
MR. BRUCEreplied, that it was the Bill, and not the subject itself which had been referred to the Committee. The Committee was not empowered to take evidence, because, in the opinion of the Government, there was ample information contained in the Reports of Select Committees, and of Commissions by whom the subject had been considered, more especially of the Commission of 1871. To enlarge the inquiry would, in the opinion of the Government, tend to defeat the object of the measure.
§ MR. BROGDENsaid, that in consequence of the answer of the right hon. Gentleman, he would on Friday move that it be an Instruction to the Committee to receive evidence.