HL Deb 25 July 1864 vol 176 cc1999-2001

Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.

Moved, "That the Bill be now read 2.a"—(Lord Stanley of Alderley.)

LORD REDESDALE

opposed the Motion. The Bill was not introduced into the House of Commons until the 30th of June—the very day which, according to their Lordships Sessional Order, was the last upon which Bills should be read a second time. This Bill was to carry into effect certain regulations in reference to the Tyne, and persons interested in the matter had no opportunity of stating their objections to the Bill. If the Bill were pressed forward he did not think that justice would be done to those who desired to oppose it, and therefore he should vote against the second reading.

LORD STANLEY OF ALDERLEY

observed, that the Provisional Orders upon which this Bill was founded had been well considered, and the parties objecting had had an opportunity of being heard. The Sessional Order fixing the time beyond which Bilk should not be read a second time in their Lordships' House did not apply to a Bill of this kind. He thought the noble Lord had hardly treated him fairly in asking him to postpone the Bill from Friday until to-day, to give time for presenting petitions, and now opposing the Bill. As to the petitions which had been presented against the Bill, there was plenty of time for the Select Committee to consider them in the usual course.

VISCOUNT MELVILLE

objected to the Bill being forced on without proper time being allowed.

THE EARL OF DONOHGHMORE

thought that the Bill should have been introduced earlier into the other House.

THE MARQUESS OF CLANRICARDE

felt that an useful measure ought not to be sacrificed upon a mere matter of form; but this being an important Bill, against which petitions had been presented, it certainly could not be fairly considered by a Select Committee sitting in the last week of the Session.

EARL GRANVILLE

reminded their Lordships that he had promised, on the part of the Government, that they would not advise Her Majesty to prorogue Parliament this week, if the Select Committees of that House required a few days more to get through their business. The Government would not advise proceeding with the Bill if the Select Committee thought further time was required.

THE EARL OF HARROWBY

thought that there was no excuse for this Bill not being brought up to their Lordships' House before Friday last, and he objected to their being called on to proceed in a hurry with it. He should like to know what excuse the Board of Trade had for not introducing this Bill earlier in the Session.

LORD REDESDALE

admitted that the Sessional Order did not prevent this Bill being read a second time. It was his own fault that it did not. The Bill belonged to a class of Bills which, under the Act which gave power to the Board of Trade to introduce them, were to be treated in the same way as Private Bills, namely, by reference to a Select Committee. In-closure and Board of Health Bills were under the Sessional Orders relating to Private Bills, and no doubt Pier and Harbour Bills ought to be included. He did not believe that the parties who were opposed to this Bill could receive justice if it were now proceeded with.

LORD STANLEY OF ALDERLEY

thought, as Metropolitan Railway Bills had been considered in Committee up to that very day, there could be no reason against proceeding with this, which was essentially a public measure. There was no reason why a Select Committee should not do justice to the case of the petitioners.

THE EARL OF MALMESBURY

reminded the noble Lord that he had not informed the House why the Bill was brought in so late.

LORD STANLEY OF ALDERLEY

said, that it was often late in the Session before the parties interested could come to such an agreement among themselves as to apply to the Board of Trade to confirm an order. This Bill had been under discussion in the district to which it was to apply for the last six months.

THE MARQUESS OF CLANRICARDE

thought that justice required that the Bill should not be read a second time at that period of the Session.

Amendment moved to leave out ("now") and insert ("this Day Three Months"): Question, That ("now") stand Part of the Motion? Resolved in the Affirmative :

Bill read 2a accordingly, and committed: The Committee to be proposed by the Committee of Selection.

Report from the Committee of Selection, That the following Lords be proposed to the House to form the Select Committee for the Consideration of the said Bill. Select Committee nominated: The Lord Steward (Chairman), The Earl of Devon. The Earl of Romney, The Earl of Ducie, The Lord Silchester, agreed to; and the said Lords appointed accordingly: The Committee to meet To-morrow, at Eleven o'clock.