§ [ADJOURNED DEBATE.]
§ Order read, for resuming Adjourned Debate on Amendment proposed to Question [11th June], "That the Bill be now read a second time."
§ And which Amendment was, to leave out the word "now," and at the end of the Question to add the words "upon this day three months."—(Mr. Edward Clarke.)
§ Question again proposed, "That the word 'now' stand part of the Question."
§ Debate resumed.
§ MR. EDWARD CLARKE (Plymouth)said, he would ask leave to withdraw the Amendment which he had proposed to this Bill. He might say he had been in communication with the hon. Gentleman who had charge of the Bill, and he proposed to withdraw the Amendment on the understanding that the Committee stage should not be taken until Monday next, in order that persons interested in it might be communicated with.
§ SIR EDWARD BIRKBECK (Norfolk, E.)said, he would remind the hon. Member who had charge of the Bill that one of the prominent officers of the Board of Trade gave a distinct pledge to the fishing interest that after the introduction of the Bill there should be a month's delay before the second reading. Though he was in favour of the provisions of the measure, with one exception only, he thought when the House realized the fact that none of these Bills could have been distributed to the fishing interest round the coast till yesterday, they would consider it very unfair indeed that the second reading should 1655 be pressed in the way it was being done. There was one very important clause affecting the lives of fishermen, especially in the North Sea—namely, Clause 21, which he hoped the hon. Member in charge of the Bill would take into consideration with a view to its amendment, if not of its withdrawal, because he knew that there were very strong objections entertained to it by fishermen on the East Coast.
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Sir WILLIAM HARCOURT) (Derby)expressed a hope that the hon. and learned Member for Plymouth would not press his objection to the Committee stage being taken before Monday, because in that case it would involve the loss of the Bill.
§ MR. EDWARD CLARKEsaid, that he should just like to say to the House that this Bill was introduced on the early morning of Friday last. It was put down for second reading—["Order, order!"]
§ MR. SPEAKERThe hon. and learned Gentleman is not allowed to speak again.
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. C. T. D. ACLAND) (Cornwall, Launceston)explained that the course of events had prevented the Government from carrying out the pledge as to the interval between the first and second reading. The Bill was much desired in Grimsby, Hull, and other Northern and Eastern ports. All the clauses had for some time past been communicated to all who were interested, and their replies had been favourable.
§ Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.
§ Main Question put, and agreed to.
§ Bill read a second time, and committed for Friday.