§ Order for Second Reading read.
§ MR. MARJORIBANKS (Berwickshire)After the withdrawal of the Government Bill, I think it would be useless to leave this Bill on the Paper, but I wish to say that the Lord Advocate has entirely misrepresented my attitude with regard to the Government Bill. He has said that undue preference for my own Bill has led me to offer undue opposition to the Government Bill. Of course, I prefer my own Bill, but, at the same time, I was perfectly ready to meet the Government Bill in a reasonable spirit. I wag perfectly ready and willing the Government Bill should be read sub silentio provided similar treatment was meted out to my own Bill. I think the names on the back of my Bill are in themselves a sufficient guarantee that there is no very radical or objectionable proposal in the measure. I am sorry the Government have not dealt with this question this Session, but I feel there is no other course open to me than to move that the Order for the Second Reading of this Bill be discharged.
§ Motion made, and Question, "That the Order be discharged and the Bill withdrawn,"—(Mr. Marjoribanks,)—put, and agreed to.