§ 6 p.m.
§ Order of the Day for the Third Reading read.
§ VISCOUNT ADDISONI beg to move that this Bill be read a third time. In doing so, perhaps I might say that my right honourable friend, the Secretary of State for the Colonies, has looked into two matters into which he was asked to look by noble Lords opposite. He has considered the point of further consultation, as it was suggested, with experienced persons, or, as an alternative, the sending out of a Commission. He does not think the sending out of a Commission would be at all a practical and useful way of dealing with the matter, but he is quite prepared, and he proposes to do so in deference to the request that was made to him, to take a number of gentlemen with whom we are all well acquainted and who are in this country and to have a formal consultation with them.
With regard to the religious authority of the Sultans, I think noble Lords are now aware of the proposal of my right honourable friend that the Attorney-General of the Malayan Union shall give a certificate in respect of Bills, and if a Bill is certified as relating solely to the Mahomedan religion, it will be solely within the jurisdiction of the Sultans.
Moved, That the Bill be now read 3a.—(Viscount Addison.)
§ LORD ALTRINCHAMMy Lords, I rise for one purpose only. That is to thank the noble Viscount opposite for the two statements he has made, and to say that they give very great satisfaction on this side of the House. We are grateful to him for having given such consideration to the suggestions, and to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, and are well content that the Bill should proceed on that basis.
§ On Question, Bill read 3a, and passed, and sent to the Commons.
§ 6.4 p.m.