HC Deb 14 March 1877 vol 232 cc1960-1

Order for Second Reading read.

MR. MARTEN,

in moving that the Bill be now read a second time, said, its object was to facilitate and improve the present mode of making out the lists of voters for Parliamentary and municipal elections, and making better provision for the revision of those lists without in any degree interfering with the area of Parliamentary boroughs. If the Bill were read a second time, he would be willing to have it referred to a Select Committee.

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Bill be now read a second time."—(Mr. Marten.)

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

said, he had no objection to the Bill being read a second time, but its provisions were so complicated, and so much inconvenience and disaster would result from any defect in the provisions, that ho hoped the House would refer the Bill to a Select Committee.

MR. SERJEANT SIMON

said, it was at least very doubtful whether the Bill as it stood would be workable in such places, for instance, as Dewsbury. He thought, therefore, that the better course would be to refer it to a Select Committee, where its provisions would be considered with reference to the peculiar circumstances of the different boroughs.

MR. HIBBERT

thought the Bill could be adapted to the cases of all beroughs.

SIR CHARLES W. DILKE

suggested that a Bill of his own, which stood next but one on the Orders, should be referred to the same Select Committee.

MR. HUNT

declined to state the intention of the Government till the Order was reached.

MR. LOCKE

moved the Adjournment of the Debate.

SIR CHARLES W. DILKE

thought it would be convenient if the Government would state their intentions as to his Bill, as the withdrawal of the franchise clauses removed the objections of the hon. and learned Member for Chatham (Mr. Gorst.)

MR. GORST,

who had given Notice of his intention to oppose the Bill of the hon. Baronet, said, the withdrawal of the clauses would enable him to support the reference of the Bill to a Select Committee.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

said, he certainly had expressed an opinion that the Bill of the hon. Baronet opposite (Sir Charles W. Dilke) should be referred to the Committee if certain clauses were withdrawn.

MR. ASSHETON CROSS

said, he would assent to the course proposed.

Motion made, and Question, "That the Debate be now adjourned,"—(Mr. Locke,)—put, and negatived.

Main Question put, and agreed to.

Bill read a second time, and committed to a Select Committee.