§ Order for Second Reading read.
§ MR. HALDANE (Haddington)said, the Bill contained certain clauses known as the "mineral" clauses which had excited a good deal of opposition. These were inserted in "another place" against the wish of the promoters; and if the House would agree to take the second reading of the Bill, he would undertake that these obnoxious clauses should, so far as he was concerned, be omitted in Committee. The rest 889 of the Bill was mere machinery, and was not, he thought, objected to by the Government, or by the hon. and learned Gentleman the Member for the Wellington Division of Somersetshire (Mr. Elton).
§ MR. TOMLINSON (Preston)said, he did not think the Bill ought to be entertained at such a time.
§ Second Reading deferred till To-morrow.