§ MR. NORWOODasked the President of the Board of Trade, To give an assurance to the House that the Second Reading of the Merchant Shipping Bill (which, though read the first time on the 6th, was only delivered to Members on the 23rd instant,) shall be deferred for a period sufficient to give proper opportunity for the consideration of its provisions by shipping associations and others interested at the outports; and, whether, to ensure full discussion, he will further arrange that the Motion for the Second Reading shall be the first Order of the Day?
§ MR. CHAMBERLAINSir, the Government is very sensible of the importance and propriety of giving a reasonable time for the consideration of this Bill 73 before the second reading is taken; and I am quite ready to give the assurance that is asked from me in the subsequent Question to be put to me by the hon. Member for Oxford University (Mr. J. G. Talbot), and to undertake that the second reading shall not be taken in any case before this day week, Thursday the 6th March, which would give an interval of 13 days between the distribution of the Bill to Members and the second reading. With regard to its being made the first Order, it would be inconvenient to give an absolute pledge; but I will undertake it shall not be taken unless it can be commenced before the dinner hour.