§ Order for Second Reading read.
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Bill be now read a second time."—(Sir M. Hicks-Beach.)
MR. CARVELL WILLIAMS (Notts, Mansfield)asked for some explanation of the reason for the introduction of the Bill.
§ *SIR M. HICKS-BEACH (Bristol,W.)I shall be pleased to give the hon. Gentleman the information he seeks for. The fact is, it has been discovered that a sum of money amounting to £6,000 was provided by the ratepayers of Bristol to rebuild the Bishop's Palace burnt in the old Bristol riots. That money was spent on the existing palace at Gloucester, and when the diocese was divided into two it was obviously unfair that the whole of it should go to the diocese of Gloucester and none to the diocese of Bristol. The proposal of this Bill is, therefore, that the diocese of Gloucester shall give £200 a year to the future diocese of Bristol. It is simply a fair transfer, agreed upon by both Gloucester, and Bristol of £200 from one diocese to the other.
§ MR. CRILLY (Mayo, N.)I object.
§ SIR M. HICKS-BEACHI would appeal to the hon. Member not to oppose the Second Reading. The Bill is supported by all parties in Bristol.
§ MR. CRILLYI would respond to the appeal which is made to me, but, in view of the attitude which the associates of the right hon. Gentleman (Sir M. Hicks-Beach) in this House have taken up in regard to other Bills, I feel that I cannot do so.
§ SIR M. HICKS-BEACHI hope the hon. Member will not persist in this attitude. I know nothing about the other Bills he refers to. This is purely a local measure.
§ MR. J. E. ELLIS (Nottingham, Rushcliffe)I should like to join in the appeal made by the right lion. Gentleman. This is a Bill which will be productive of great good if it is passed.
§ MR. CRILLYAfter the appeal that has been made to me by my hon. Friend I will withdraw my objection, which was only made in view of what had been done by gentlemen sitting on the Benches near me.
§ Question put, and agreed to.
§ Bill read a second time, and committed for To-morrow.