§ Order for Second Reading read.
538§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Bill be now read a second time."
§ SIR C. W. DILKE (Gloucester, Forest of Dean)said, in moving the rejection of this Bill, it concerned his constituency almost exclusively, the whole of the Severn and Wye line (which the great companies were purchasing) being within the borders of that constituency, except part of the Severn Bridge and a little bit of junction with the Midland near Berkeley Castle. It was rumoured that the traders of the district had come to terms with the companies, but, although a majority of a so-called committee of traders had proposed to do so, those gentlemen were the proprietors of the larger collieries, who had arranged clauses through Mr. Cripps which met their views, but did not meet the grievance of the traders generally. He had no doubt that the interest of his constituents was opposed to the Bill in its present form, and that they had far better reject it than run the smallest risk of its passing without the provisions for the protection of the district which the Board of Trade favoured, and which the House of Lords had not inserted.