§ On the Order for the Second Reading of this Bill,
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Sir ROBERT REID,) Dumfriessaid, that several hon. Members were opposed to the Bill. He had been in communication with them, and he thought the Second Reading of the Bill might be taken on the following conditions:—That the Second Reading should be taken with the view of referring the Bill to a Select Committee; clearly on the understanding that those who opposed the principle of the Bill would not thereby be in any way committed; also on the understanding that the Committee should be appointed at once, and should report early in July. This would give opportunity for those hon. Members to urge their objections to the Bill.
§ *MR. T. H. BOLTON (St. Pancras, North)wished to say, on behalf of some of the principal opponents of the Bill, that they were quite willing to contest the measure on its merits, and to do so in the first instance in a Select Committee. Still, it must be understood that they would be free to oppose the Bill at subsequent stages, whatever the result of the Committee might be. On that understanding, he would not object to the Second Reading.
Several Members objected, and the Second Reading was deferred till Monday next.