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or they had to arrive at some method by which the necessary time
could be obtained for their consideration. They have also adopted
another plan with the view of meeting the same difficulty, and
that is in the appointment of Grand Committees. Now it
appears to me that the logical result of these Grand Committees
is that it is pointing to the delegation of the legislative powers
that have been exercised by the whole House of Commons itself to
certain Committees of the House. And those Committees, if they
are to be of any influence at all, must be chosen from the persons
best informed and most interested in the subjects that are referred
to them. Now, if these Grand Committees, of which only two have
been named, should ever succeed, it is certain, I think, that the
principle will be extended, and that many local measures could
be similarly referred-for instance, a measure connected with
Scotland would be referred to such members in the House
of Commons as had most intimate acquaintance with that
part of the empire. And so, we may presume, with Ireland.
Then, again, as I said, these Committees all point, in my
judgment, to local self-government. It is found that there is
a certain class of subjects which have hitherto been dealt with by
the Hlouse of Commons, by the general Parliament, which they
are now beginning to see could be better dealt with by the people
more directly themselves; and we know that in the case of
Ireland, and in the case, I think, of England too, that schemes
are before the public with the view of endeavouring to meet that
demand. Now we hear, too, that almost immediately following
the passage of the bill for the extension of the county fran-
chise there is going to be a redistribution of seats. It is
impossible that a redistribution of seats can take place in this
country without a great deal of local difficulty attending it. It is
clear, if you look either at the population, or the wealth, or the
influence of the different sections of the mother country, that
there are certain portions which are less represented than they
ought to be. Scotland has only 60 members, and Ireland has
103. That disproportion cannot be maintained; and at the same
time, if you reduce it, or equalise it to anything like the rela-