§ MR. BARTLEYI beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether, as a large number of shipping traders are anxious to have time to consider the new Amendments to the Merchant Shipping Bill, the right hon. Gentleman intends to push on the measure before the Adjournment, or whether he will postpone its further consideration until the Autumn Session?
§ SIR M. HICKS-BEACHI hope that the right hon. Gentleman will take the Second Reading of the Bill before the House adjourns for the Autumn Sittings. The Bill is one more for consideration in Committee than on the Second Reading, and I know that many shipowners desire to look into its provisions.
§ MR. MUNDELLAI agree with the right hon. Gentleman that it is of the utmost importance that the Bill should become law within a reasonable time. There is no intention on the part of the Government to hurry it on. What we propose is that the Second Reading shall be taken before the House adjourns for the Autumn Session, and that then it shall be referred to a Joint Committee of both Houses, who will go through the clauses to see that it is purely a consolidation measure.
MR. GIBSON BOWLESI desire to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it is not the fact that the Bill consists of over 700 clauses, that it has only been in the hands of Members for a few days, and that there is absolutely no urgency for it; and whether, under these circumstances, the right hon. Gentleman does not think it advisable to defer the Second Reading, which would affirm a principle involving, amongst other things, new penalties, until such time as the shipping community can consider the Bill?
§ [No answer was given.]