HC Deb 20 March 1873 vol 214 cc1958-9

(Mr. Winterbotham, Mr. Secretary Bruce.)

Bill considered in Committee.

MR. LIDDELL,

without pre-judging the question whether this Commission was necessary or not, appealed to the hon. Gentleman the Under Secretary for the Home Department to suspend further action in regard to this measure until the House had had an opportunity of considering the provisions of the Salmon Fisheries Bill of the hon. Member for Swansea (Mr. Dillwyn). That Bill proposed to create certain important work in connection with the Salmon Fisheries, which could only be well done by these Commissioners, and until the House decided this point it would be premature to abolish the Commission.

MR. WINTERBOTHAM

said, he should be happy to accede to the request of his hon. Friend, were it not for this practical difficulty—that substantially the whole of the work which the Commissioners were appointed to do under the Act of 1865 had been completed, and accordingly in the Civil Service Estimates of the current financial year no provision was made for the continuance of the Commission after March 31. If it were hereafter found that new powers might be advantageously given to the Commissioners, it would be competent to the House to re-constitute the Commission.

Bill reported, without Amendment; to be read the third time upon Monday next.