SECOND READING. (Hansard, 14 February 1867)

§ EARL STANHOPE
said, he would take the liberty of repeating the suggestion he made last summer before the accession to office of the present Government. He then expressed to the Earl of Clarendon his opinion that the appointment of a single Commissioner from the House of Commons would hardly do justice to the subject. His suggestion was last year received with much favour, but a practical difficulty prevented its being carried out at the time. Now, however, he believed the difficulty was removed, and he begged leave to renew his suggestion that at least two efficient Members of the House of Commons be appointed Commissioners under the provisions of the Bill.

§ LORD LYTTELTON
said, he believed the Bill would be highly beneficial as a whole; but it was capable of improvement in some of its details.

§ THE EARL OF DERBY
said, that this was the same Bill as the one of last Session, which was introduced by his noble Friend the Earl of Clarendon, and he had brought it forward early, in order that it might be thoroughly considered. He thought it best to send the Bill to the House of Commons in precisely the same condition as it was passed by their Lord- 334 ships last year; but he entirely concurred in the suggestion of his noble Friend (Earl Stanhope), that there should be two Members of the House of Commons in the Commission who should be so selected that they might represent the different parties in that House. He had not yet had an opportunity of consulting his noble Friend the Earl of Clarendon; but when they had selected the names and learned that they were willing to accept the office, he would mention them to the House. Of course, they would retain in the Commission all the names which were now in the Bill.