§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERSir, I beg to move for the appointment of a Select Committee to consider the question of Parliamentary Reporting. I do not know whether the House will think it desirable that I should occupy their time by any discussion upon this question. I should rather apprehend that it would be more convenient not to do so, and I will simply say that the object I have in view in moving the appointment of this Committee is not simply to consider the question which is involved in the recent new arrangement with Mr. Hansard, but I also propose that the Committee should consider any other arrangements, or the propriety of entering into any other arrangements, which may be thought desirable. I believe there are several hon. Gentlemen in this House who have paid a good deal of attention to this subject, and some have expressed a desire to bring before us their various views. No doubt, the matter is rather a complex one, and the objects are of a character which render it impossible to 854 attain them all completely; because we desire to have correct reports, we desire to have full reports, we desire to have reports which shall not be unnecessarily or very long delayed in their publication, and we desire not to be burdened with a great mass of unnecessary matter. It is obviously very difficult to draw the line so as to attain the maximum good with the minimum of inconvenience; but I believe a well-selected Committee—one that will attend to the subject, and will receive evidence—may be able to do a very good service to the House. Without further remark, therefore, I will move for the appointment of a Select Committee to consider the question of Parliamentary Reporting.
§ MAJOR NOLANI hope the Chancellor of the Exchequer will make this Committee a large Committee, and for this reason. There are two or three Irish Members who are very anxious to serve upon it. My hon. Colleague the Member for the county of Galway (Mr. Mitchell Henry) was the first to draw attention to this subject. Then, there is the hon. Member for New Ross (Mr. Dunbar), who is, I believe, the only Member of this House who has been in the Reporters' Gallery; and there is also the hon. and learned Member for Louth (Mr. Sullivan), who has been a good deal connected with newspapers and reporting matters. These three hon. Gentlemen would be very competent to serve on such a Committee, and, therefore, I hope the Chancellor of the Exchequer will make it sufficiently large to include them.
§
Motion agreed to.
Select Committee appointed, "to consider the question of Parliamentary Reporting."—(Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer.)
§ And, on June 17, Committee nominated as follows:—Mr. WILLIAM HENRY SMITH, Mr. WILLIAM EDWARD FORSTER, Viscount CRICHTON, Mr. LYON PLAYFAIR, Sir ALEXANDER GORDON, Mr. WALTER, Lord FRANCIS HERVEY, Mr. DUNBAR, Mr. HALL, Mr. MITCHELL HENRY, Sir HENRY WOLFF, Mr. BARCLAY, and Mr. MILLS:—Power to send for persons, papers, and records; Five to be the quorum.—(Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer.)
§ And, on June 20, Sir HENRY HOLLAND, Mr. HUTCHINSON, Mr. COWEN, and Major ARBUTHNOT added.