§ MR. ASCROFTI beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury, whether, with a view to prevent the great waste of time and money arising from the abuse of the law relating to the trial of Election Petitions, he will consider the advisability of appointing a Select Committee to inquire into the question, or take such other steps, as he may deem necessary, for dealing with the same by early legislation?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYI agree with my hon. Friend that the present condition of this matter is not satisfactory—["Hear, hear!"]—but it is too large a question for me to answer without much further consideration than I have been able to give it.