BILL WITHDRAWN. (Hansard, 19 May 1868)

§ THE EARL OF MALMESBURY
said, that before his noble Friend (the Earl of Lichfield) moved the House into Committee on the Bill, he would put it to him to consider whether, under the critical circumstances of the moment, it was not almost impossible that he could succeed in the object—undoubtedly a very important one—which he desired to accomplish. It was now the 19th of May, with the Whitsuntide holidays close upon them, the House of Commons was absorbed in the consideration of other subjects of a difficult character. He thought his noble Friend would only raise a useless discussion by proceeding with the Bill, and he therefore put it to him whether it would not be better to withdraw it? He would not however have his noble Friend think that the Government were opposed to the Bill, or did not think that the subject was worthy of consideration; on the contrary he (the Earl of Malmesbury) agreed with what fell from him (the Earl of Lichfield) the other night, when he expressed a wish for a Royal Commission to consider the whole subject, and although he was not in a position to promise that a Royal Commission should be appointed, he was inclined to regard such a proposition with every favour; because their Lordships would be able to work much more effectu- 507 ally when in possession of the Report of a Commission than under the present circumstances.

§ THE EARL OF LICHFIELD
said, that he attached great importance to the question, and he had heard no objection of any weight offered against any of the clauses of the Bill which he had brought forward. Under any other circumstances, therefore, he should have been most reluctant to withdraw it. His object, however, had been gained to a great extent— first, by having brought the subject prominently forward, and having, as he believed, attracted the attention of a large portion of the public to this important question, and also in having obtained from Her Majesty's Government an intimation that they approved of the principle of the Bill and were not unwilling that a Commission should be appointed to inquire into the whole subject. Having that prospect before him, and believing that it would be an unnecessary waste of time if he insisted on pressing the measure under the present circumstances, he would adopt the advice given him by the noble Earl and withdraw the Bill.

§ EARL FORTESCUE
said, that having presented a petition from one of the most prosperous friendly societies in the country, stating that the investigation they had made respecting other friendly societies and the experience of their own had convinced them that a general and searching inquiry into the subject was necessary; he desired to express his gratification at the prospect of a Royal Commission being issued; for he felt satisfied that the Commission would render important services to the cause of providence and self-denial, and would lead to securities for the diminution of pauperism, the advantages of which to the country could not be over-estimated.