HC Deb 18 July 1881 vol 263 cc1230-1

Order for Second Reading read.

COLONEL ALEXANDER

said, that, looking to the fact that the Government had withdrawn the Teinds Bill because hon. Gentlemen had threatened to oppose it at every stage, he would ask the Government whether the time had not come for moving that the second reading of this Bill should be discharged? He announced that if the Government did not take that course by Thursday next, he himself should move the discharge.

THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. J. M'LAREN)

stated that this was a Bill to extend to Scotland the provisions of the Sununary Jurisdiction Act, 1879, introduced by the right hon. Gentleman opposite (Sir R. Assheton Cross), who, he believed, had intended to extend it to Scotland.

MR. DICK-PEDDIE

observed, that the Bill was not in the hands of Members, and he therefore thought it would be wrong to go on with the second reading.

THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. J. M'LAREN)

admitted that, technically, that was the fact; but copies of the Bill had been printed for the House of Lords, and had been procured by hon. Members. Of course, it was in the power of the hon. Member to postpone the Bill on that ground; but he thought his object would be met by allowing the Bill to be read a second time, and then he (the Lord Advocate) would be willing to defer the further stages.

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Bill be now read a second time."—(The Lord Advocate.)

MR. DICK-PEDDIE

said, there were strong objections to the Bill on the part of some of the Procurators Fiscal, and he thought it would be better that the Bill should be in the hands of Members before it was discussed.

COLONEL ALEXANDER

said, that in order to give an opportunity for Members to see the Bill, he moved the adjournment of the debate.

Motion made, and Question, "That the Debate be now adjourned,"—(Colonel Alexander,)—put, and agreed to.

Second Reading deferred till To-morrow.