Sitting of 6 February 1867

MINUTES.
NEW WRITS ISSUED—For The College of the Holy Trinity, Dublin, v. Right hon. John Edward Walsh, Master of the Rolls for Ireland; for Galway Town, v. Right hon. Michael Morris, Attorney General for Ireland; for Andover, v. William Henry Humphery, esquire, Chiltern Hundreds.;
NEW MEMBER SWORN—Arthur Kavanagh, esquire, for Wexford County.
PUBLIC BILLS—Ordered—Finsbury Estate; Annuity Tax Abolition (Edinburgh, Parish of Canongate)*; Joint Stock Companies (Voting Papers).*
First Reading—Finsbury Estate* [1]; Annuity Tax Abolition (Edinburgh, Parish of Canongate) * [2]; Joint Stock Companies (Voting Papers)* [3].

QUEEN'S SPEECH.

  REPORT OF ADDRESS.
  Report of Address brought up and read.
  On Motion, to agree to the Address—
  MR. HADFIELDcomplained that no allusion had been made in the Speech to the question of church rates, although it would be in the recollection of the House

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  that a Bill dealing with that subject was actually read a second time last Session.
  MR. WALPOLErose to order. I do not know whether it is usual for an hon. Member to go into a subject not immediately relating to the Address. The course being taken by the hon. Gentleman is somewhat inconvenient, and may lead to some discussion.
  MR. SPEAKER: It would be open to the hon. Member, on the Question that the Address be read a second time, to refer to any particular passage in the Address, or to move an Amendment, but not to open a discussion on subjects irrelevant to the Address.
  MR. HADFIELDbelieved that he was in order, and that he had a right to notice a palpable omission in the Address, and to argue that an addition ought to be made to it. He did not want to raise any discussion upon the matter; but he thought that reference in the Address ought to be made to a subject of debate in that House for the last thirty years, and that some intimation should be given to the country on the subject of church rates. It appeared to him that they ought not to blink a question of thirty years' standing in that House. The House had by large majorities established the principle that abolition should be either entire, or that persons should not be sued for church rates. He therefore begged leave to move an addition to the Address to the effect that this House represents to Her Majesty its regret that no allusion whatever has been made in the Speech from the Throne to the subject of church rates—a subject which had been repeatedly discussed in this House. In his opinion the matter ought to be disposed of; and that it would be a great relief to the country if it were removed from discussion. He certainly understood last Session that an attempt would be made by the Government to deal with the question, and they ought not to shrink from it.
  MR. BAINES, in seconding the Motion, said, that the subject was one of so much importance, and had occupied so very prominent a position in the discussions of this House for many years, and especially last Session, that he could not but think it was exceedingly right for the House to express its regret that no mention was made of the subject in the Royal Speech.
  MR. SPEAKER: The hon. Member
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  for Sheffield is quite in order in expressing an opinion upon the subject; but with regard to the proposal that he has made, according to the rules of this House, he is not in order. The time for moving an Amendment to the Address is while it is under discussion for the second reading; but after the Motion has been put from the Chair that the House do agree with the Committee in the said Resolutions, the opportunity has passed. Accordingly, he cannot now move the Amendment. The Question for the House is that the House do agree with the said Address.
  Address agreed to; to be presented by Privy Councillors.
  QUEEN'S SPEECH to be considered Tomorrow.

CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.

  QUESTION.
  MR. HIBBERTsaid, the Home Secretary would probably be able to answer a Question, of which he had privately given him notice—namely, Whether it is his intention to bring in any Bill based on the Report of the Royal Commission on Capital Punishment; and, if so, whether that Bill will contain clauses as to the mode of carrying out capital punishment?
  MR. WALPOLEsaid, the Bill of last year did not come down from the House of Lords till nearly the close of the Session. The Government, exercising the best judgment upon the subject of which they were capable, thought it ought to be amended in point of form. But he could now inform his hon. Friend that two Bills had been already prepared, having for their object to separate the two distinct branches of the subject—namely, one relating to the law of murder, the other to the mode in which capital offences are to be carried into execution. The two Bills would shortly be introduced, and hon. Members would have an opportunity of considering their provisions.
  MR. HADFIELDwanted to know whether the Government had any Bill prepared founded upon the Report of the Commission on Oaths and Declarations.
  MR. WALPOLE: No; there is no Bill prepared at the present moment, because the Commission has not as yet made its Report.

  FINSBURY ESTATE BILL.
  On Motion of Mr. AYRTON, Bill to appropriate a portion of the income of the estate lately be-

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  longing to the Prebend of Finsbury, in the Cathedral of St. Paul, London, for the relief of spiritual destitution in the Metropolis, ordered to be brought in by Mr. AYRTON and Mr. LOCKE.
  Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 1.]

  ANNUITY TAX ABOLITION (EDINBURGH, PARISH OF CANONGATE) BILL.
  On Motion of Mr. M'LAREN, Bill to abolish the Annuity Tax, or Ministers' Money, in the Parish of Canongate within Edinburgh, and to make provision in regard to the Stipends of the Ministers in that parish and city, ordered to be brought in by Mr. M'LAREN, Mr. DUNLOP, and Mr. BAINES.
  Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 2.]

  JOINT STOCK COMPANIES (VOTING PAPERS) BILL.
  On Motion of Mr. DARBY GRIFFITH, Bill to afford Shareholders of Joint Stock Companies facilities for Toting by means of Voting Papers, ordered to be brought in by Mr. DARBY GRIFFITH, Mr. ROBERT TORRENS, and Mr. VANCE.
  Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 3.]
  House adjourned at a quarter before One o'clock.