§ Bill brought from the Commons; read 1a; to be printed. (No. 207.)
THE EAEL OF MILLTOWNI beg leave to give Notice that I propose on Thursday next to move the second reading of this Bill.
§ EARL GRANVILLEI do not know, in the absence of the noble Marquess 3 the Leader of the House, by what right the noble Earl takes upon himself to move the second reading of this Bill on Thursday. It is a most unusual course. I myself intended to move the second reading to-morrow, as it is a matter of great urgency.
THE EARL OF MILLTOWNI shall be most happy to meet the suggestion of the noble Earl, and put the Bill down for to-morrow.
§ EARL GRANVILLEI do not quite know why the noble Earl has taken up this measure.
§ EARL GRANVILLEI have been asked to take charge of this Bill; but the noble Earl, of his own Motion, takes charge of it. The Government, as stated by their Leader in "another place," do not wish to delay the Bill; and yet the noble Earl has taken upon himself, without any request from any other person, to move the second reading on Thursday. That is the most unusual course that I have ever seen taken since I have been in the House of Lords. I give Notice that, unless we hear something as to the intentions of the Government, I propose to take the second reading of the Bill to-morrow.
THE EARL OF MILLTOWNI object to this action of the noble Earl as entirely out of Order, and inconsistent with the Standing Orders of the House. I gave Notice, as I had a perfect right to do, to the Clerk of the Parliaments, that I would take charge of the Bill when it came up from the other House, as I have always felt very strongly on the subject. It was not in charge of anyone in the other House when it was passed, and Sir William Harcourt stated that it was in charge of the House itself. The noble Earl is absolutely in error; for the Bill is a derelict, and came to this House without a Leader, and it was therefore open to anyone to take it up here. I accordingly came down to the House to take charge of the Bill, and I cannot understand on what grounds the noble Earl objects to my action.
§ EARL GRANVILLEThe first reading of a Bill is usually considered a formal stage in this House, and in this case was taken as a matter of course. Not being able to walk very quickly at present, I was two or three minutes late 4 in reaching the House, and therefore did not hear it; but I had intended, in accordance with an arrangement I had made with those interested in the Bill in the other House, to intimate that I would give Notice of the second reading for to-morrow.
THE EARL OF MILLTOWNMy Notice having been given first will remain first on the Paper, according to the Standing Orders.
THE EARL OF ROSEBERYThe noble Earl has given Notice that he will move the second reading on Thursday. By that time, no doubt, he will find that the Bill has been read a second time and passed on the Motion of my noble Friend. We have no objection.
LORD ELLENBOROUGHI rise to Order. I beg to point out that this discussion is irregular, and I object to its being continued. I have been called to Order for much less.
THE EARL OF ROSEBERYI must call attention to the facts of the case. If this Bill is a derelict, it is because it was abandoned by the Leader of the House of Commons. There can be no question as to who ought to have charge of the Bill in this House, for it was at once taken charge of by the Liberal Leader for the time being—Sir William Harcourt. [Cries of "No!"] It was at all events passed on his Motion, and he handed it over to my noble Friend near me. There is no question as to whose Bill it is.
§ EARL GRANVILLEWe entirely agree as to the advisability of passing the Bill, and it is very undesirable that we should keep up this quarrel about it. I think, however, I have some little title, by my position in the House and following the usual practice, to say that I will take charge of the Bill.