§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading, read.
§ THE EARL OF HARROWBY moved that the second reading of the Bill, which was a Private Bill, be postponed till Monday, in order that the promoters, who had only to-day become acquainted with the objections of the noble Chairman of Committees to it, might consider what course they should pursue. He believed the President of the Council was favourable to this step.
1117§ LORD REDESDALEsaid, he took objection to the Bill considerably more than a month ago. Being a Bill dealing with a charity it had, according to the Orders of the House, been referred to the Attorney General, whose report entirely coincided with the view he had himself taken. It might seem strange that he should say so; but he had a detestation of Private Bill legislation. He thought nothing could be more mischievous to the country at large than to allow of an extension of such legislation as was constantly attempted. His experience of the office which he had the honour to hold in their Lordships' House, enabled him in some degree to check this tendency. All that these parties required could be effected through public Acts or other ordinary courses; and although no doubt a Private Bill was more convenient for the promoters, it was undesirable to permit such legislation when unnecessary. He had therefore treated this Bill as one which he thought ought not to go on. Of course, if their Lordships desired, the Bill could be put off for a further period; but he knew that the result would be a canvass from a most important district to induce noble Lords to come down and vote for the Bill, and a precedent would be established contrary to the principle by which the House had been hitherto guided.
EARL DE GREY AND RIPONstated that the Government had received no notice that there was anything peculiar in respect to this Bill until within the last hour or two. The object of the Bill, so far as it concerned the extension of Owens College, was one of great public importance and interest; but he readily admitted that that did not in itself constitute sufficient ground for recourse to private legislation if it were a case in which that course ought not to be allowed. At the same time, if, as he understood, the local promoters of the Bill had only that day heard of the objections to it, it seemed to be only reasonable that their moderate request; should be acceded to. He could not see that that would prejudice the principle which the noble Lord the Chairman of Committees desired to maintain, or the position of the House with respect to questions of this kind. He believed that no canvass, such as had been mentioned, would be likely to influence their Lord-ships upon a matter of principle; and he 1118 was certain that the opinion of his noble Friend had such weight with the House that he need have no fear of such a proceeding.
§ Motion agreed to; Second Reading put off accordingly to Monday next.