§ LORD PENRHYN,seeing on the Notice Paper two Notices of Amendment that this Bill be read a second time that day six months, wished to ask the Lord Privy Seal, Whether he had any objection to state what were the intentions of Her Majesty's Government with respect to the Amendment of which the noble and learned Lord on the Woolsack had given Notice? It would be convenient for many noble; Lords to know what course the Government proposed to take.
§ THE EARL OF MALMESBURYIn Answer to the Question of my noble Friend, I have to state that Her Majesty's Government are undoubtedly extremely anxious at once to follow the noble Earl (Earl Granville) who has given notice of the Motion for the second reading of the Suspensory Bill, inasmuch as it is a question of the very highest magnitude and importance, and one which should be dealt with by Her Majesty's Government as soon as possible. According to the forms of your Lordships' House, it would be—I will not say the right, but at all events, the usual practice—that Her Majesty's Government should follow the Mover of the second reading on such a question; and under that impression I have done my best to obtain that position for Her Majesty's Government. I have written to the noble Earl who has given Notice of his intention to move the Amendment—I will mention 1910 his name as he is not present, Earl Grey—stating my reasons for wishing that Her Majesty's Government should take the initiative in opposition to the Bill; but I am Sony to say with no effect. The noble Earl still perseveres in his intention of moving the Amendment; and that being the case I should think it unseemly if we were to test in any way the wishes of the House as to who should take precedence. I think it better that Her Majesty's Government should give way to the noble Earl; and therefore I conclude that on Thursday night he will proceed to move the Amendment to the Motion for the second reading.