§ Order for Second Reading read.
§ MR. MARJORIBANKS (Berwickshire)In moving the discharge of this 1152 Order I claim the indulgence of this House while I say a very few words. Six years ago I was asked by the then Government to preside over a Committee appointed to inquire into the question of the Scotch Fisheries. I was asked to state what were my views upon the subject, and to put them in the form of a Bill, which I did. That Bill, however, was not passed. I subsequently reintroduced the measure with certain Amendments, but the Government said they would themselves take up the matter. They did so, but their measure was nothing but an emasculated edition of my Bill. The matter is one of very great importance to the fishing interests of Scotland, but the Government have not been able to see their way to obtaining a full consideration of the measure this Session. It would have been perfectly possible for them, at any rate, to have passed a simple measure dealing with the important matter of the mussel fisheries. I beg to enter my strongest and most indignant protest against the way in which the Government have neglected the Scotch fishery interests, and having done that I move that the Order be discharged and the Bill withdrawn.
§ Order for Second Reading read, and discharged.
§ Bill withdrawn.