HC Deb 30 July 1888 vol 329 c888

Order for Second Reading read.

MR. HENRY H. FOWLER (Wolverhampton, E.)

asked, how it was the Bill appeared on the Paper marked as a Government Order? It was introduced in the other House by a Peer who was not a Member of the Government, and it had not been mentioned in the Government programme. He could assure the hon. and learned Attorney General that some of the clauses would meet with opposition; but what occasioned him some surprise was to find the Bill a Government measure, though the First Lord of the Treasury had given no intimation that the Government had taken it up.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Sir RICHARD WEBSTER) (Isle of Wight)

said, of course, he could not debate the subject-matter of the Bill; but he might explain that it was introduced in the House of Lords by Lord Esher, because he happened to have the custody of the Roll to which the Bill referred. The Bill had been fully considered by the Profession of which the right hon. Gentleman (Mr. Henry H. Fowler) was a distinguished ornament, and it was introduced with the approval of the Lord Chancellor.

Second Reading deferred till To-morrow.