The Marquess of Normanbysaid, that he rose for the purpose of moving, which he did with very great regret, that the order of the day for going into committee on the Stock in Trade Bill be read in order to be discharged. There were some words in the last clause of the bill which had occasioned very considerable doubt whether they did not carry the exemption provided for by the bill much further than was originally intended. He would move that this bill be committed that day three months.
§ Lord Portmanremarked, that it was necessary to make it clearly understood that their Lordships' House having found that a large amount of property would have been exempted from rating by this bill, had taken care to prevent such an error being committed. He wished to mention that a right rev. Prelate, who had, been obliged by illness to leave the 1246 House, had consented to the arrangement proposed, on the condition that the bill to be brought in should be merely temporary. He must say, that his noble Friend at the head of the Home Department, could do no greater service to the country during the recess, than by preparing himself carefully on the subject to which this bill related, as it was of the very highest importance.
Lord Ellenboroughdid not know what service the noble Marquess might have it in his power to do the country during the recess, but he knew that he could not do the country a greater disservice than by passing temporary acts of Parliament.
The Marquess of Normanbyadmitted the correctness of that observation as a general principle, but, as he was obliged to withdraw the present bill, he thought the introduction of a temporary measure justifiable.
§ Committee on the bill put off for three months.