§ Order for Second Reading read.
MR. CRAIG-SELLAR (Lanarkshire, Partick)said, before a day was fixed for the Bill, he wished to make an appeal on behalf of the shipping interest in 1672 Glasgow, Liverpool, and other large ports, that an opportunity should be given for giving the Bill a full discussion. He hoped the right hon. Gentleman the President of the Board of Trade would recognize that the measure was of a character the principle of which could not be fairly allowed to pass sub silentio. It might be good or it might be bad in principle, on that he was not prepared to offer an opinion; but he asked that the Bill might be taken at such a time when full discussion could take place.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH) (Bristol, W.)said, when the Bill came on, a few days ago, he said, or attempted to say, to the hon. Member who offered opposition, that if the Bill were allowed to pass its second reading he would undertake that the opportunity should be given for fully discussing it in Committee. The hon. Member would be aware that at that time of the Session, and with the pressing claims of other Business, it was almost impossible to find time in the early hours of a Sitting for the discussion of such a Bill. All he could do now was to propose the Bill be pro formâ set down for to-morrow at 2.
§ MR. CONYBEARE (Cornwall, Camborne)thought the excuse offered was very inadequate. For a long time past the Government had had command of nearly all the time of the House, and they proposed to ask the House for the whole time. If, with such opportunities, they found it impossible to offer fair discussion of a Bill of this important character, it was only another evidence of their incompetence in the management of Business. The principle of the Bill had received no attention, and it would be altogether irregular to attempt a discussion of principle in Committee. He hoped the Government would see their way to accede to the proposal of the Liberal Unionist Whip.
§ Second Reading deferred till To-morrow, at Two of the clock.