§ MR.HOWELL (Bethnal Green, N.E.),who had the following Notice of Motion on the Paper:—
That a Select Committee be appointed to inquire into and report upon certain charges, brought under the notice of this House by Mr. Howell, Member for the North East Division of Bethnal Green, and Mr. Bradlaugh, Member for the Borough of Northampton, alleging improper use and malversation of public funds of the Corporation of London, by or with the consent of members and officials of such Corporation:—That it be an Instruction to the Committee that they do take evidence on oath,said: I should like to ask the First Lord of the Treasury, whether he can state what course the Government are going to take with regard to my Motion? I understood he promised to say today.
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. W. H. SMITH) (Strand, Westminster)There will be no opposition on the part of the Government to the Motion which I understand the hon. Member has put on the Paper. I think, however, it would have been better if the hon. Member had set out in his Motion the charges which he proposes to bring against the Corporation; but I assume he is prepared to lay them before the Committee specifically when it meets.
§ MR. BRADLAUGH (Northampton)I should like to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he will consent if the Committee as nominated does not include my hon. Friend the Member for North East Bethnal Green and myself, to an Instruction which I shall move, giving my hon. Friend and myself power to call and examine witnesses before the Commission?
§ MR. W. H. SMITHIt is hardly reasonable that I should be asked to anticipate the course which the Committee of Selection may take. I propose that the Committee of Selection shall take the entire responsibility for the nomination of the Committee; and if the two hon. Members (Mr. Howell and Mr. Bradlaugh) are not named on the Committee, then will be the time for them to make an application to the House.
§ MR. BRADLAUGHThen, if the Committee of Selection does not so name us, I give Notice that I shall move such an Instruction to the Committee.