§ Order of the Day for the House to be put into Committee read.
§ LORD RAVENSWORTH, who said he had taken charge of this Bill at the request of the Archbishop of York, moved that the House resolve itself into Committee. The clauses of the Bill were a portion of the Government Bill on the same subject which was in the other House; but it was to be feared that that Bill would not come up to their Lordships in time to be passed into law. The present measure was therefore proposed in order to provide a remedy for an evil which had been ac- 1945 knowledged, and he did not anticipate that the Government would oppose clauses which they had already adopted.
§ Moved, That the House do now resolve itself into a Committee on the said Bill.
§ THE EARL OF CHICHESTER, said that, as a Member of the Ecclesiastical Commission, he should oppose the further progress of the Bill. Since it passed the second reading an opportunity had been given for considering what would be the certain effects of the measure. He admitted that the object which the Bill had in view was in itself perfectly just, provided it could be carried out without injury to existing interests. But the Bill would create very heavy charges upon the estates of the Commissioners without making any provision to meet those charges, and would, in fact, create charges which the resources of the present Commissioners would not be able to meet. He must, therefore, move an Amendment that the House go into Committee on the Bill that day three months.
§ Amendment moved, to leave out "now," and insert "this day three months."
§ On Question, That "now" stand part of the Motion? Resolved in the Negative; and House to be in Committee on this Day Three Months.
§ House adjourned at a quarter before Eight o'clock, till To-morrow, half-past Ten o'clock.