§ LORD REDESDALEsaid, he would now answer to the best of his power the Question put to him by the noble Lord the Postmaster General last week as to the state of the Private business before their Lordships' House. There were now twenty-one opposed Private Bills before Select Committees, and he trusted that the inquiries that had been commenced might be got through in fair time. There had been read a second time that night, or would be to-morrow, twenty-four more Bills which would be opposed in Committee. In many cases the opposition was of a trifling character, and the inquiries would not be likely to occupy much time; but in other instances the objections were of a more serious nature. If noble Lords really felt that it was important to the character of the House to dispose of as nearly as possible all the Bills which were before them, he hoped that to-morrow or next day he should be able to appoint Committees upon all the Bills which were before the House. There were reasons which made it very important in some cases that the progress of Bills should not be stopped. There were some arrangements between railway companies, especially in Scotland, where the companies after contending for a long time had at last come to an agreement among themselves; and it was very desirable, for the interest of the public, equally for that of the companies, that those measures which had advanced so far as they had done, and were not likely to occupy an extraordinary time, should pass during the present Session. There were also one or two other Bills of considerable importance which it was desirable should receive the assent of their Lordships. If he could obtain a fair number of Committees he saw no reason why the business should not be got through in comparatively a few days. It was not desirable to name a very early day as the limit beyond which Parliament would not sit, lest you should provoke opposition, intended merely to defeat Bills by delay. He therefore hoped that if the House decided to go on with the Private business there would be no en- 764 gagement to conclude the Session upon a certain day. At the same time he might impress upon those having the management of these inquiries, that if either the promoters or opponents of a Bill could not make out their case in a reasonable space of time, there was a fair presumption that it was not entitled to much consideration. No measure ought, on an average—especially if Committees sat every day—to occupy more than a week. It must be borne in mind that many of the Bills which were now before their Lordships might receive amendments, and would therefore have to go back to the other House; but, making all necessary allowance for that circumstance, his impression was that if there was an understanding that, if necessary Parliament would sit till the 13th of July, all the Bills might be satisfactorily disposed of. He did not despair of the business being completed so as to enable the Session to close a few days sooner, hut for the reasons which he had already stated he should object to name an earlier day.
§ LORD STANLEY OF ALDERLEYsaid, that the statement which the noble Lord had made, for which the House was much obliged to him, would be considered by the Government, but at present he would express no opinion upon the subject.
§ LORD REDESDALEsaid, that on Monday next he would make a further statement as to the position of the Private business on that day.