THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYAs this appears to be an occasion for obtaining miscellaneous information, I wish to ask the noble Lord opposite (Lord Playfair) what he intends to do with the Merchant Shipping Bill? It is a most strange Bill. It was got secretly through the House of Commons—I believe at 12 o'clock at night—and was introduced as secretly into this House. As far as I can gather, it is a measure for subjecting the men engaged in the herring fishery at Yarmouth and on the East Coast to a literary examination. I look upon modern legislation of this description as suspicious, and I hope the noble Lord will give us due notice when the Bill is to come on for Third Reading.
* LORD PLAYEAIRsaid, the Bill had certainly not gone secretly through this House; and the noble Marquess would remember, doubtless, that he made a speech fully explaining the provisions of the measure when the Second Reading was moved. He found that considerable opposition had arisen to the Bill, and he had, therefore, thought it fair to put off its further progress in order that its opponents might have an opportunity of stating their case. With that object he had postponed it week after week, and he was still waiting for a promised Memorial from Grimsby. In the circumstances, he had put off the further stage until the 22nd, and would then be prepared to put the Bill down for any day that would meet the convenience of the noble Marquess.