IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 32, 15 October 1842, Page 127

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

In the House of Commons on the 6th of May, Mr. Roebuck demanded in succession of Lord Cheisea, Mr. Russell, Captain Plumridge, Sir J. C. Habhouse, Mr. H. Elphinstone, and Captain Beresford, whether it was true that they had secretly engaged to accept the Chiltern Hundreds, and thereby vacate seats in favour of opponents, for pecuniary considerations. In reply, Lord Chelsea, Mr. C. Russell, Sir J. C. Hobhouse, and Captain Beresford, denied his right to cross-examine them. Captain Plumbidoe and Mr. H. Elphinstone admitted the compromise without their knowledge or consent. Mr. Fitzeoy inquired if he was included ; and declared that, as far as he was concerned, it was a foul lie and a calumny. Mr. Roebuck moved for a committee of investigation; repeating the words for each of the members respectively — " He was there to charge the right honourable members with bribery." Mr. Fitzroy seconded the motion for the appointment of a committee. On the 9th of May the debate on this motion was resumed. Major Beresford refused to answer the questions of Mr. Roebuck as being unparliamentary. He would reply before a competent tribunal, and would vote for the committee. Lord Palmerston thought that the compromises were no violation of the statute law; and as, therefore, no punishment could .ensue, to inquire into facts already admitted on all hands was waste of time. He was prepared to take Mr. Roebuck's statement, and vote for a measure of Lord John Russell's, which obliged election committees to pursue the inquiry, though the petition was abandoned. Sir R. Past said that he should feel bound to vote for the enquiry if Mr. Roebuck placed a specific charge on record. He would give every assistance to Lord John Russell in preparing a bill to settle the disputed elections. Mr. Roebuck's motion was then re-formed thus : — " That the house being informed by a member of that house respecting the inquiries instituted into the election petitions presented from Reading, Nottingham, Harwich, Lewes, | and Falmoutb, that a corrupt compromise had been entered into to avoid an investigation into the gross bribery alleged to have been practised j at the elections in the said towns, a select com- j mittee be appointed to inquire whether such a compromise had been entered into and such a bribery had taken place." The motion was agreed to. On the 10th of May, a new writ for Notting-

ham having been moved for, Sir'G. Larpent having accepted the Cbiltern Hundreds, Mr. Roebuck submitted that the grounds which were sufficient for an inquiry were so to suspend the writ. Sir R. Peel agreed, and the motion for the writ wan withdrawn. Mr. Roebuck gave notice that he would move for leave to introduce a bill to indemnify witnesses examined before the committee. Lord J. Russell gave notice that he would move for leave to bring in a bill to prevent bribery at elections. Mr. Readington moved for leave to bring in a bill to disfranchise Sudbury, giving in detail the transactions of the last election, to show that the corrupt character of the constituency rendered them unfit for representation. — Leave given. May 11. — After conversation as to Mr. Roebuck's committee, Mr. T. Duncombe gave notice that he would move that each member appointed on the committee should declare before the Speaker that he had not been concerned in bribery during the last or any previous election. Sir James Graham brought forward his bill to continue the Poor Law commission, and for the amendment of the Poor Laws ; the continuation to be for five years ; the Gilbert unions to be abolished ; the commissioners to have all the management : the two acts could not continue in operation at the same time. There were in the new act seven specific exceptions to the rule against relieving able-bodied labourers. The guardians could give out-door relief without reference to the commissioners. Out of a million relieved last year, only 159,000 were in the worL houses. The district schools for pauper children were to have a circle of operation of not more than fifteen miles, and to be superintended by the Privy Council. The Law of Settlement was modified, so that the sick were relieved where they resided. In cases of bastardy, the father refusing to pay, and having no goods, was liable to three months' imprisonment. Provision was made to lessen the distance to be travelled to obtain relief in large unions. — Leave was given to bring in the bill, and it was read a first time.