HC Deb 15 August 1916 vol 85 c1782
Sir F. BANBURY

I beg to move to leave out the Clause.

I move this formally. There has been an Amendment, which I do not doubt is all right, and I did not oppose it, but it is an Amendment inserted in an extremely empty House, and I really do think the Report stage ought to be taken tomorrow. The Amendment was not on the Paper. I think it is a right Amendment, but there ought really to be some little regard for the old procedure of the House, and, having obtained the Second Reading when my hon. Friend was not here, and having obtained the Committee stage tonight, I think we might take the Report stage and Third Reading to-morrow.

Mr. PRETYMAN

I hope my right hon. Friend will not persist in this. I do not I wish to resist any determined request to I postpone the Report stage, but this is purely war legislation, and cannot be I regarded at all on the lines of our ordinary legislation. The Amendment inserted makes no alteration whatever in the structure of the Bill, but merely prolongs its operation for three years, instead of two, after the War. It is, after all, something that we should not be required to spend time here when work can be done elsewhere, and, if my right hon. Friend sees no valid objection, I hope he will allow this purely war measure to proceed to its remaining stages.

Sir F. BANBURY

I will not press the Amendment, but I really think we ought to be more careful. There are a great many things introduced which are not war legislation—I do not say this is one of them—which would not have been introduced if it had been known what they would do.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Bill read the third time, and passed.