§ LORD STANMORE,who had given notice of his intention to move for a copy of a despatch from Earl Grey to Sir William Gomm, Governor of Mauritius, No. 38 of 1846, and for a Return, in a comparative form, of the Laws, Ordinances, and Regulations affecting the introduction and employment of Indentured Immigrant Labourers in His Majesty's Colonial Possessions (1) as existing in 1885; (2) as now existing, said: My Lords, I have felt and feel some embarrassment with regard to the Motion which stands in my name on the Paper to-day. That embarrassment is due to the fact that another Motion, also relating to coloured indentured immigrants, is to be brought before your Lordships for discussion to-morrow. It is true that the two Motions are not at all similar, either in their scope or in their object. The scope of mine is a much wider one than that of the noble Lord who has given the notice for to-morrow (Lord Coleridge), for the scope of mine includes the whole of the question of the legislation with regard to coloured immigration in all the Colonies. His Motion refers only to the introduction of a particular class of coolie into one particular colony. His object is understood to be to convey a censure on the Government for the action which they have permitted or enjoined; mine does not convey any censure upon any one, neither upon the Government nor upon private individuals, but merely desires to call public attention to one of those curious fluctuations of public opinion which from time to time occur. But though our Motions are not identical, either in scope or object, it is impossible to deny that to a certain extent the two Motions do overlap one another, and that some of the arguments and facts which would be quoted in the one would necessarily be, if not quoted, alluded to in the other. That, under ordinary circumstances, would not greatly matter; at least it would not greatly matter if the two discussions were separated from one another by any considerable interval; but through a series of circumstances not entirely due to myself the two Motions are now down for two consecutive days, and I think if I were now to go into 247 my Motion it would be impossible to prevent, to some extent, the discussion which must take place to-morrow being forestalled. It would be very difficult, although it is not my Motion, although it is not what I wish chiefly to dwell on, to keep out of sight the Chinese coolie question, which must necessarily form a part of it. I have, therefore, though somewhat reluctantly, come to the conclusion that I should best consult your Lordships' convenience, and also show that consideration to the noble and learned Lord to which he is entitled, if I withdraw the Motion standing in my name. Lord Coleridge gave his notice before mine, and, therefore, has a certain priority. I have no wish to poach upon another man's preserves, and my Motion, though, I think, not less important than that of the noble and learned Lord, is one which can wait. There is no immediate necessity for calling attention to this curious change of feeling in the public mind. My noble friend the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies need not laugh, because I can assure him I intend to return to the charge before long. Of course I cannot bring forward the same Motion again, but I shall bring up the same subject by another Motion at a decent interval after the discussion of to-morrow. I beg, with the permission of the House, to withdraw the Motion standing in my name.
§ Motion (by leave of the House) withdrawn.