§ On Motion that the Lords' Amendments to this Bill be considered,
§ DR. CLARKinquired whether this was a private measure, or whether 36 the House was now engaged in public business.
§ MR. R. B. HALDANE (Haddington), who spoke from the Treasury Bench, said, that the Bill was introduced by the Lord Chancellor and had passed both Houses of Parliament, and had the approval of the highest judicial authorities, and the Amendments made in it by the Lords were purely of a drafting character.
§ DR. CLARKsaid, that he supposed the hon. and learned Gentleman spoke on behalf of the Government.
MR. JAMES LOWTHER (Kent, Thanet)said, that it was a great inconvenience that the Lords' Amendments to this Bill should be taken without notice. He should not, under the circumstances, object to the Lords'3 Amendments to5 this Bill being considered, but he should on the earliest opportunity call the attention of the House to the matter, as he thought that a most undesirable practice had been followed, and he should move that Amendments by the Lords should be printed before they were considered by the House.
§ SIR WILFRID LAWSON (Cumberland, Cockermouth)asked whether he was to understand that the right hon. Gentleman was speaking on behalf of the Government? [Laughter.]
Resolved, That the Commons do not insist on their Amendment to which the Lords have disagreed, and agree to the Amendment made by the Lords in lieu thereof.—(Mr.Haldane.)