§ Order for Second Beading read.
MR. BRUCEsaid, that he had an appeal to make to the hon. Member for Wick (Mr. Loch) upon the subject of this measure. At the close of last Session the Government had undertaken to deal with the difficult question of the Game Laws of Scotland; but although the Bill was in a forward state, it was not yet in a condition to be laid before the House. He had therefore to request the hon. Member to be kind enough to postpone the second reading of his Bill until that of the Government had been laid before the House. He would undertake, on the part of the Government, that the hon. Member would lose nothing by consenting to this proposition.
§ MR. LOCHsaid, he was not unprepared for this application on the part of the Government, because he had been informed yesterday by the Lord Advocate that, in the event of his not consenting to postpone the second reading of his Bill, the Government intended to throw it out. Under these circumstances, he had no option but to comply with the request of the right hon. Gentleman.
MR. PARKERsaid, that as one whose name was on the back of the Bill, he consented to its postponement with, reluctance, and he wished to remind the Government that by the step they had taken they made themselves responsible not only for the principle of their measure, but also for the time at which it might be brought in. They had lost a Game Bill, and they lost the Scotch Education Bill, last year, from this tendency to put Scotch business aside in favour of Irish and English business; and he therefore hoped that his hon. and learned Friend (Mr. Loch) would impress upon the Government the importance of introducing and pressing forward their Bill in time to be considered and passed in the other House.
§ Second Reading deferred till Wednesday 16th March.