§ Order for Second Reading read.
§ MR. HERBERT GARDNER (Essex, Saffron Walden)moved that the Second leading be deferred until the 3rd of May.
§ MR. LABOUCHERE (Northampton)hope we shall have an understanding that this Bill be proceeded with on the rd of May, or that the Order for the Second Reading will be discharged his is the fourth time that the Bill has Den set down, and although the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Brad-ford (Mr. Shaw Lefevre) was good enough to give notice that he did not intend to bring it on to-day, I think there should be an understanding that hen a private Bill is down on the Paper for Second Reading it should be proceeded with. A considerable number of hon. Members have come down on this and other occasions for the purpose of discussing the Bill.
§ MR. E. ROBERTSON (Dundee)I am glad that my hon. Friend the Member for Northampton (Mr. Labouchere) has called attention to the inconvenience of the course which is frequently pursued in regard to private Bills. Much convenience is occasioned by private Bills—especially a private Bill so much disputed as this is—being repeatedly postponed without adequate notice having 346 been given to the House. The private Bill legislation of the House is one of the greatest curses we have to contend with, and I think it ought to be made more subservient to the convenience of the House. I am sorry that the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Bradford is not present, but I hope that the remarks which have been made on this occasion will be taken notice of not only by him, but by all other Members in charge of public Bills. It is most inconvenient to come down here to discuss a private Bill and then to find that without notice it has been postponed.
Ordered that the Second Reading be deferred until Friday the 3rd of May.