§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading, read.
THE EARL OF CARNARVON,in moving that the Bill be now read the second time, said, a few words of explanation would suffice. These Islands, which hitherto had had Constitutions after the West Indian type, desired to exchange them for a constitution similar to that in Crown Colonies. Tobago had abrogated its Constitution—which, however, it had no power to do—and Grenada had repealed the Act under which it existed, and they now, in conjunction with St. Vincent, sought to be re-constituted by this Bill, which fully accorded with the wishes of the people.
§ Moved, "That the Bill be now read 2a."—(The Earl of Carnarvon.)
THE EARL OF KIMBERLEYsaid, he did not like the second reading of the Bill to be agreed to without saying that he was glad these Islands were to have a better Constitution, and after the manner proposed by this Bill. It was creditable to the authorities of these Islands that they should have voluntarily come forward and asked the Go- 1040 vernment to place them under a better constitution.
§ Motion agreed to; Bill read 2a accordingly, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House To-morrow.