§ Order for Committee read.
THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. J. B. BALFOUR)&c.) (Clackmannan,I do not propose, Sir, to do anything more now than to move that you leave the Chair. The Bill has been brought in in compliance with an universal desire; and if you now leave the Chair I intend to put off the Committee stage for a week or a fortnight, or until such time as may be considered most convenient.
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That Mr. Speaker do now leave the Chair."—(The Lord Advocate, Mr. J. B. Balfour.)
§ MR. MARK STEWART (Kirkcudbright)I hope the right hon. and learned Gentleman will allow a little time for the consideration of the matter. It involves questions of very great importance to Scotland; and if the right hon. and learned Gentleman will give some assurance that there will be several weeks' delay before proceeding with Committee, I think there will be no objection to getting the Speaker out of the Chair.
§ THE LORD ADVOCATEThe Bill was before the county meetings on the 30th of April, and was fully considered then.
§ MR. FRASER-MACKINTOSH (Inverness-shire)Will the Lord Advocate be good enough to say whether this Bill applies to counties?
§ MR. J. B. BALFOURIt certainly does; that is one of the main objects of the Bill.
§ MR. J. H. A. MACDONALD (Edinburgh and St. Andrew's Universities)Sir, I respectfully suggest to my right hon. and learned Friend that he should not go into Committee on this Bill now. It is not like the Police Bill, about which no representations were made; very serious representations have been made against it; and I must certainly oppose the Motion for your leaving the Chair.
§ Question put.
§ The House divided:—Ayes 113; Noes 28: Majority 85.—(Div. List, No. 92.)
§ Bill considered in Committee.
§ Committee report Progress; to sit again upon Monday 24th May.