§ LORD GEORGE HAMILTON,in moving that the Order for the House to be put into a Committee on the Bill be read and discharged, said, it would perhaps be for the convenience of the House if he were now to state what course the Government intended to adopt with reference to this Bill. The only object of the Bill was to strengthen and confirm the powers of the Legislative Council of the Governor General of India. Since the Bill had been before the House certain doubts as to the position of the Council had arisen in India which would require further reference to, and communication with, the Indian Government before they could be finally settled. Pending the settlement of these matters it would not be proper to ask Parliament to increase the powers of the Legislative Council, and he would, therefore, move that the Order be discharged.
§ Motion agreed to.
§ Order discharged; Bill withdrawn.