HC Deb 08 July 1889 vol 337 cc1707-8

Order for Consideration, as amended, read.

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Bill be now considered."

DR. CAMERON

I wish to point out that a large number of Amendments to the Bill appear upon the Paper, and I would suggest that as they would probably occupy the House until a late hour it would be better to proceed at once to the consideration of the Scotch Local Government Bill. I, therefore, beg to move the adjournment of the debate.

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Debate be now adjourned."—(Dr. Cameron.)

MR. J. P. B. ROBERTSON

I hope the hon. Gentleman will not persist in that Motion. Although a considerable number of Amendments appear on the Paper, they are mostly of a non-contentious character. The Bill has passed through the Grand Committee very expeditiously, and there is no reason to suppose it will now occupy any great, length of time.

DR. CAMERON

One word of explanation. I have no desire to impede the progress of the Bill, but if it consists of non-contentious matter only it may very well be taken at some other time.

* MR. WALLACE (Edinburgh, E.)

I have not the honour of being a Member of the Standing Committee of Law, but I understand from the Lord Advocate that this Bill passed through the Committee very expeditiously. I am afraid that if I had been a Member of the Committee the expedition would not have been so signal as the Lord Advocate congratulates himself upon. It is to me a matter of some surprise that the Report stage should be proposed to be taken now, and I believe that some important local bodies in Scotland will also be taken by surprise. They have no means of knowing what has gone on in the Standing Committee, but they have taken great interest in the measure, and entertain serious objections to some, of its provisions.

Question, "That the Debate be now" adjourned," put and agreed to.

Debate adjourned till Thursday.