§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY, in moving that the Bill be now read the second time, said, that there could be no possible doubt that the object of the Bill, which was to obtain periodical information respecting the quantity of cotton imported into the United Kingdom, the quantity re-exported, and the quantity held in stock, would be of great public utility An indirect object, which it was hoped would result from the Bill, was to put an end to the present gambling in cotton. The only parties who could possibly be aggrieved by the Bill were the "Ware-housers," and the "Forwarders"—that was to say, every person or corporation who carried or forwarded cotton for toll or other consideration—who were required to make monthly returns to the Board of Trade of the quantities of cotton received or forwarded by them. The principal carriers were, of course, the Railway Companies, and the Directors of the lines principally concerned had given their assent to the Bill.
§ Moved, That the Bill be now read 2a."—(The Marquess of Salisbury.)
§ THE EARL OF POWIScalled the attention of the noble Marquess to the fact that 710 the definitions employed in the Bill were too large, and would render liable to heavy penalties many persons whom the noble Marquees could not have intended to include.
§ THE DUKE OF RICHMONDsaid, he had no desire to oppose the Bill; but, concurring in the remarks of the noble Earl who had just sat down, hoped that the noble Marquess would see the propriety of amending the wording of the Bill between this and going into Committee.
§ VISCOUNT HALIFAXopposed the Bill on the ground of the indefiniteness with which some of its provisions were worded.
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYhoped their Lordships would not reject the Bill. Whatever alterations might be necessary in detail—and he admitted that the Bill was susceptible of amendment—they might be made in Committee.
§ VISCOUNT HALIFAX moved that the Bill be read a second time that day six months.
§ Amendment moved to leave out ("now") and insert ("this Day Six Months.")
§ On Question, That ("now") stand Part of the Motion? their Lordships divided:—Contents 13; Not-Contents 6: Majority 7.
| CONTENTS. | |
| Cairns, L. (L. Chancellor.) | Carnarvon, E. |
| Hawarden, V. | |
| Richmond, D. | Lifford, V. [Teller.] |
| Chelmsford, L. | |
| Bath, M. | Clinton, L. |
| Salisbury, M. [Teller.] | Colchester, L. |
| Denman, L. | |
| Bradford, E. | Feversham, L. |
| NOT-CONTENTS. | |
| Somerset, D | Colville of Culross, L. |
| Powis, E. | Foley, L. [Teller.] |
| Portman, L. | |
| Halifax, V. [Teller.] |
§ Resolved in the Affirmative; Bill read 2a accordingly, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Tuesday next.
§ House adjourned at a quarter before Eight o'clock, to Monday next, Eleven o'clock.