LEAVE. FIRST READING. (Hansard, 9 February 1877)

MR. GATHORNE HARDY
, in moving for leave to bring in a Bill to make further provision respecting the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge and the Colleges therein, said, he would not detain the House by entering into the details of the measure. Last year there had been some difficulty in regulating the order of debate in consequence of the desire shown by both Oxford and Cambridge men to address the House on the subject, which was dealt with in two separate measures. To obviate that inconvenience he had deemed it better to combine both Bills in one, and it was in that shape he intended to introduce the proposals of the Government this Session.

§ MR. BERESFORD HOPE
said, that last year he welcomed with great pleasure the fact that the two Universities were treated in two Bills, because, as a Cambridge man, he could not help seeing how that University had often been put at a disadvantage, both in that House and elsewhere, by the idea of dealing with it as a duplicate Oxford. Oxford produced politicians, and Cambridge Judges, and so in Parliament the former was apt to have more than its due influence. It was forgotten that they were independent in their origin, their traditions, their constitution, and their means of working. Because there had been two Bills the claims of the two Universities were, last Session, well put before Parliament. He trusted that any provision affecting either Oxford or Cambridge which might be adopted would not therefore be taken for granted in the case of the other as analogous in its application. With that protest in favour of fair play and of sufficient consideration for the University of Cambridge, he could only now express his fervent hope that as there was considerable discussion last year the House would deal with this Bill with all possible speed.

MR. OSBORNE MORGAN
asked whether the Commissioners named in the Bills of last Session were the same as it was now proposed to appoint, and if not, whether the Bill, when printed, 144 would contain the names of the new Commissioners?

§ MR. LYON PLAYFAIR
wished to know whether, as the House was now informed that there was to be but one Bill, there would be two separate Commissions for the Universities or only one National Commission?

MR. STAVELEY HILL
asked when the Bill would be in the hands of hon. Members?

MR. GATHORNE HARDY
, in reply, trusted that, with the assistance of the Cambridge statesmen and Oxford politicians, both Universities would have their due honour, and that the provisions for the two Universities should be separately maintained, so far as was necessary. With respect to the Commissioners, they would not be altogether the same, but their names would appear in the Bill. There would not be a National Commission, but two separate Commissions, as proposed last year. There had been a little delay in printing the Bill, owing to the absence of Lord Salisbury, and he could not say exactly when it would be ready. He hoped to take the second reading on Monday week.