*MR. GIBSON BOWLESI beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether, seeing that the Merchant Shipping Bill, read a first time on 24th August, besides consolidating the existing law, introduces changes in the law by increasing the powers of the Board of Trade, as in Clause 720, by substituting summary jurisdiction for procedure before Justices as in Clause 579, by reducing punishments, imposing new penalties, and creating new offences, he will undertake not to press forward this Bill without allowing an adequate time for its previous examination, and giving to the House adequate opportunities for its full discussion?
§ MR. MUNDELLAThere is no intention of hurrying this Bill through the House. We have circulated over 70 copies of the Bill to bodies and authorities interested in its administration, and have invited their observations from the point of view of consolidation only. We propose now merely to read the Bill a second time, with a view to its reference to a Committee of both Houses, who will consider the suggestions received, and who will satisfy themselves that the Bill in no substantial sense increases the powers of the Board of Trade, imposes new penalties, or creates new offences.