§ Order for Second Reading read.
§ MR. PINNEYmoved the Second Reading of the British Electric Telegraph Company's Bill.
§ Motion made and Question proposed, 1287 "That the Bill he now read a Second Time."
MR. RICARDOsaid, the whole of the capital required by this Bill did not amount to 100,000l., and that it was an attempt upon the part of its promoters to extort a sum of money from the Electric Telegraph Company. He should move that the Bill be read a second time that day six months.
§ Amendment proposed, to leave out the word "now," and at the end of the Question to add the words "upon this day six months."
§ MR. FARRERsaid, it was rather unusual, without a strong case being made out, that the House should refuse to send a Bill to a Committee upstairs, particularly such a one as the present, which held out a promise to afford very great convenience to the country. He hoped the hon. Member for Stoke would not persist in his opposition to the second reading, as he would have an opportunity of stating his objections in Committee.
§ MR. W. PATTENwas in favour of inquiry, and would, therefore, support the second reading.
§ MR. LABOUCHEREobjected to a clause in the Bill, which gave limited liability to those who engaged in the undertaking; but as its promoters had intimated to the Board of Trade that they were willing to alter that in Committee, he should not oppose the second reading.
MR. RICARDOsaid, the promoters of the measure had been canvassing for votes, and issuing handbills in the lobby of the House.
§ MR. FARRERbelieved the principle of the Bill to be just and equitable, and said that, with respect to canvassing, there had been no mention of any opposition until the night before, so that there was very little time for soliciting votes in its favour.
§ Question put, "That the word 'now' stand part of the Question."
§ The House divided:—Ayes 75; Noes 12: Majority 63.
§ Main Question put, and agreed to.
§ Bill read 2o and committed, and referred to the Committee of Selection.