HC Deb 23 July 1888 vol 329 cc304-5

Motion made, and Question proposed, That a Select Committee be appointed to inquire into the facilities which exist for the creation of Small Holdings in Land in Great Britain; whether, either in connection with an improved system of Local Government or otherwise, those facilities may be extended; whether, in recent years, there has been any diminution in the number of Small Owners and Cultivators of Land; and whether there is any evidence to show that such diminution is due to legislation: That the Committee do consist of Seventeen Members."—(Mr. Akers-Douglas.)

DR. FARQUHARSON (Aberdeenshire, W.)

said, he had no wish to oppose the appointment of the Committee, which was a good one; but he hoped the Government would take into consideration the very moderate proposal he had put on the Paper. In view of the fact that the Bill was to be applied to Scotland, it was not unreasonable to ask that one or two Scotch County Members should be added to the Committee.

MR. ANDERSON (Elgin and Nairn)

said, that the composition of the Committee as regarded Scotland had led him hitherto to object to the appointment of the Committee. He did not oppose it any longer, and he thought it was highly desirable the Committee should get to work; but he trusted the Government would not object to the appointment of two Scotch County Members upon the Committee.

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. GOSCHEN) (St. George's, Hanover Square)

said, the Government felt it was impossible to increase the number of Scotch Members. There were three Scotch Members already.

DR. FARQUHARSON

No; only two.

MR. GOSCHEN

There are three Scotchmen.

DR. FARQUHARSON

One is the Member for Ipswich (Sir Charles Dalrymple).

MR. GOSCHEN

said, there were two Scotch Borough Members. If the Scotch Members wanted two County Members upon the Committee, the simplest plan would be to withdraw the Borough Members, and substitute for them two County Members. The Government could not consent to increase he number of Scotch Members, as they would then be out of proportion to the rest of the Committee.

MR. ESSLEMONT (Aberdeen, E.)

said, he could not see it would be at all disproportionate if four Scotch Members were appointed on the Committee.

MR. T. M. HEALY (Longford, N.)

said, he thought that in view of the late period of the Session at which the Committee was appointed, it would be practically impossible to do any effective work that year. He desired to give the Government Notice that, in case the matter came up next year, he should raise the question of the desirability of investigating the operation of the Labourers' Act.

Question put, and agreed to.

The Committee was accordingly nominated of,—Sir Edward Birkbeck, Mr. Broadhurst, Sir George Campbell, Mr. Joseph Chamberlain, Mr. Chaplin, Mr. Cobb, Mr. Jesse Collings, Viscount Curzon, Sir Charles Dalrymple, Sir William Hart Dyke, Mr. Thomas Ellis, Sir Walter Foster, Mr. Compton Lawrance, Mr. Llewellyn, Mr. James William Lowther, Mr. Robert Reid, and Mr. Halley Stewart.—Power to send for persons, papers, and records; Five to be the quorum.