§ [ADJOURNED DEBATE.]
§ Bill, as amended, further considered.
§ MR. HUNTER (Aberdeen, N)I have some Amendments on the Paper; but I should be glad to hear what course the Government intend to take with regard to the Bill.
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. W. H. SMITH) (Strand, Westminster)The Government have considered the question raised by the hon. and learned Gentleman's Amendments, and they do not feel that it is in their power to admit any extension of the exception which the hon. and learned Member wishes to extend. It must be understood that this measure is not to be regarded as a final measure; but it is well that the Office of Secretary for Scotland should be consolidated and made a more effective Office than it is at present for the discharge of the duties devolving upon it. In another Session—and probably not a very remote Session—it may be desirable that the functions of the Secretary for Scotland should be made much wider than they are at present; but the Government do not propose to accept any of the Amendments proposed by the hon. and learned Gentleman.
§ MR. HUNTERI shall not move my Amendments.
§ MR. MASON (Lanark, Mid)I recognize that this Bill is a distinct advance with regard to the Office of Secretary for Scotland; and I move, as I have been requested, that the date on which it shall come into force shall be altered from the 1st of January, 1888, to the 1st of November, 1887.
§ Amendment proposed, in Clause 4, to leave out "first of January, 1888," and insert "first of November, 1887."—(Mr. Mason.)
§ Question, "That the words proposed to be left out stand part of the Clause," put, and negatived.
§ Question, "That the words proposed be there inserted," put, and agreed to.
§ THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. J. H. A. MACDONALD) (Edinburgh and St. Andrew's Universities)I beg to move the third reading of the Bill.
§ Motion made and Question, "That the Bill be now read the third time,"—(The Lord Advocate,)—put, and greed to.
§ Bill read the third time, and passed.