§ Bill, as amended, considered.
§ SIR GEORGE CAMPBELLsaid, he thought it very unfortunate that this stage of the Bill should be taken now. He could hardly expect to be able to carry his Amendment; but he would move it by way of appeal. He thought there was a general opinion in the House that the words "if not a Member of the House of Lords," which he proposed to omit, were totally superfluous, and not required in strict or legal sense. It might be said that these words, although they had not any distinct meaning, pointed to the conclusion that this Officer might be a Peer. He understood that without these words it was possible that this Officer might be a Peer; but, that being so, if special words of this kind were put in, they would point to the likelihood of a Peer being so appointed. That he thought would be very objectionable. The new Officer was to take over the duties of the Home Secretary, and, to some extent, to perform the duties of the President of the Local Government Board in England. It was almost a part of our Constitution that the Home Secretary should be a Member of this House; and not of the House of Lords. He quite admitted that a Member of the other House might possess certain superior qualities; but he objected strongly to retaining in the Bill words which seemed to point to the nomination of a Member of the House of Lords.
§ Amendment proposed, in page 1, line 23, leave out the words "if not a Member of the House of Lords."—(Sir George Campbell.)
§ Question proposed, "That the words proposed to be left out stand part of the Bill."
THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. J. B. BALFOUR)said, this question had already been fully discussed in Committee; and 1110 he thought he should save the time of the House by not again discussing it.
§ Question put, and agreed to.
§ Amendments made.
§ Bill read the third time, and passed.