§ Birkenhead Corporation Bill [Lords],
§ Read the third time, and passed, with Amendments.
§ London County Council (Money) Bill,
§ Read the third time, and passed.
§ Oxford and District Tramways Bill,
§ To be read the third time To-morrow.
§ Shropshire, Worcestershire, and Staffordshire Electric Power Bill [Lords],
§ Read the third time, and passed, with an Amendment.
§ Yorkshire Electric Power Bill [Lords],
§ Read the third time, and passed, with Amendments.
§ Beira Railway Company Bill [Lords],
§ As amended, considered; to be read the third time.
§ As amended, considered; Amendments made; Bill to be read the third time.
§ Sheffield Corporation Bill (by Order).
§ As amended, considered.
§ Mr. STUART-WORTLEYWith the indulgence of the House, I may be allowed to say on behalf of the promoters of the Bill that the House may have observed that until this morning a notice appeared on the Paper which would have raised a very serious issue indeed, and would have practically asked the House to reverse the decision of the Committee to which the Bill was referred. The last thing that I am going to ask the House to attempt to do is to revive the question that would have been raised by this Motion. The promoters have taken the best advice they could, and have come to the conclusion 2076 that, having regard to the lateness of the period at which we have arrived, the great embarrassment that would be caused to all the interests concerned, and to the other House in respect of the very late period at which they would be called upon to decide the very difficult question, we should be well advised to withdraw that Instruction. That is not in the least because we do not think we had and have still the very strongest and most equitable claim to the relief which we have been seeking. I see the Chairman of Committees here. I hope that his presence does not mean that he is going to tell us that we were unreasonable in raising this issue at the first, or that we are frivolous or vexatious in now withdrawing the claim which we first made.
§ The CHAIRMAN of WAYS and MEANS (Mr. Whitley)I beg to move, "That Standing Orders 223 and 243 be suspended, and that the Bill be now read the third time."
I am glad that the right hon. Gentleman has taken the course which he has indicated to the House. The only opinion which I have in the matter is that to move to recommit at this period of the Session would have been seriously to endanger the whole Bill. Of course I have no opinion on the merits of the proposal which the right hon. Gentleman advocates. The only thing that I should like to say is that, in my opinion, a proposal of that kind would in future years be better introduced by itself rather than in an Omnibus Bill dealing with a great many other matters.
§ The CHAIRMAN of WAYS and MEANSThat is so.
§ Sir J. D. REESIs it understood that the Instruction to recommit is finally withdrawn?
§ The CHAIRMAN of WAYS and MEANSThat is so.
§ Question put accordingly, and agreed to.
§ Bill read the third time, and passed.
§ Local Government Provisional Order (No. 18) Bill,
§ Consideration, as amended, deferred till To-morrow.