§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading, read.
§ LORD KINNAIRDsaid, that he proposed to postpone the second reading of this Bill until after Easter, for the following reason:—Their Lordships might be aware the Home Secretary had introduced in the other House a Bill called the Mines Inspection Bill; but though 169 that measure referred more especially to coal and ironstones mines, yet several of its provisions would affect those mines to which his Bill referred. Considerable inconvenience might arise if both Bills should become Acts of Parliament, and therefore he had had communication with hon. Members for Cornwall, which was the principal district to which his Bill would apply, and where large meetings had approved all the important provisions of his Bill. One of the Members for Cornwall would move in the other House to insert these provisions in the Government Bill, and he was happy to say that the Secretary of State would have no objection to incorporate them in his Bill. The result would be a complete and comprehensive measure, and their Lordships would have no occasion to discuss the details of the present Bill.
THE EARL OF MORLEYthanked the noble Lord for the course he had taken. He thought that the Amendments that would probably be introduced into the Government Bill in the other House would meet the cases that the noble Lord's Bill proposed to deal with, and the course which he now adopted would facilitate legislation and tend to make the Government Bill a better one.
Then the Second Reading put off' till after the Recess at Easter.