Lords Sitting of 29 April 1872

MINUTES.
PUBLIC BILLS—Second Reading— Alteration of Boundaries of Dioceses* (84).
Committee—Prison Ministers* (72–91).
Committee—Report—West Indies (Incumbered Estates)* (88).

APPELLATE JURISDICTION—SUPREME COURT OF APPEAL.—QUESTION.
EARL GREYinquired of the Lord Chancellor, Whether the adjourned debate on the question of a Supreme Court of Appeal was to be taken on the Resolution which had been moved by the noble and learned Lord, or on the Bill which stood for second reading to-morrow evening?
THE LORD CHANCELLORsaid, that when the subject was before the House on a former occasion it was fully understood that the adjourned debate on the second reading of the Bill would not be taken till after the Resolution had been disposed of. He had since ascertained, however, that the forms of the House required that the Bill should be first on the Notice Paper for Tuesday, because on that day Orders had precedence of Motions. On that account a formal change had been made; but he hoped their Lordships would find it convenient to adopt the course which had been agreed to in the first instance.
LORD CAIRNSthought it was understood on the former occasion that the debate was adjourned in order that their Lordships might see the Bill in print; but it was not of much consequence whether the debate was taken on the Resolution or on the Bill, because in reality everything turned on the plan proposed by his noble and learned Friend as a substitute for the existing system.

TREATY OF WASHINGTON.
TRIBUNAL OF ARBITRATION (GENEVA).
THE INDIRECT CLAIMS.

TREATY OF WASHINGTON.

  NOTICE OF MOTION POSTPONED.
  EARL RUSSELL, who had given Notice to move—
  "That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty praying that Her Majesty will be graciously pleased to give instructions that all proceedings on behalf of Her Majesty before the Arbitrators appointed to meet at Geneva, pursuant to the Treaty of Washington be suspended until
  1928
  the claims included in the Case submitted on behalf of the United States and understood on the part of Her Majesty not to be within the province of the Arbitrators have been withdrawn,"
  said: My Lords, there is a Notice of some importance standing in my name on the Notice Paper to-day; but, as I am informed that the steamer bringing the despatch of the American Government, in reply to that of the Foreign Secretary, only arrived at mid-day on Saturday, off the coast of Ireland, and as I wish that your Lordships should have full time to consider this important subject, I propose to postpone my Motion till Monday, May 6.
  THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY: May I ask the noble Earl the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, whether the despatch has been received?
  EARL GRANVILLE: I called on General Schenck to-day, but did not find him at home. Subsequently he informed me that he was in hourly expectation of the despatch, and at 2 o'clock he wrote to me to say he had ascertained that it had arrived at Kingstown, and he expected to receive it by the Irish mail at 7 this evening.

REGISTRATION OF BIRTHS.

  QUESTION.
  LORD BUCKHURSTasked, If it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to introduce a Bill this Session to render compulsory the Registration of Births in England and Wales?
  THE EARL OF MORLEYreplied that his right hon. Friend the President of the Local Government Board had prepared a Bill on the subject; but in consequence of the extreme pressure of Public Business he had not been able to fix a day for its introduction. He hoped, however, that his right hon. Friend would soon be able to name a day for that purpose.
  House adjourned at half past Five o'clock, till To-morrow, half past Ten o'clock.