§ LORD COTTESLOEinquired, when the Notice with respect to the Report of the Royal Commission on Railway Accidents is brought before the House, Whether it is proposed to conclude with a Motion, or to submit any Resolutions to the consideration of the House? He thought the House was indebted to the noble Lord (Viscount Bury) for having given Notice that he would bring the subject forward, for the question was one which well deserved consideration. All Her Majesty's subjects were interested in the subject, and the House had already taken some action in regard to it, for it was at their suggestion that the Railway Commission was appointed. A great deal of important evidence had been taken by the Commission, and a discussion on the Report would not fail to elicit valuable statements from noble Lords in that House who had much acquaintance with the working of railways. It was highly desirable in the interests of the public that action should be taken on the Report as soon as possible; and, therefore, he was of opinion that the noble Lord would much enhance the value of the discussion that was likely to ensue when he gave effect to his Notice if he submitted his conclusions in the shape of a Motion.
§ VISCOUNT BURYsaid, that originally it was not his intention to conclude with a Motion. It had been generally understood by those interested in the matter that some legislation would be proposed on the subject, and it was his special wish that no legislation should be made until there had been a very full discussion of the whole matter. However, since he gave his Notice noble Lords more experienced than himself had communicated with him, and had pointed out that a discussion on a statement not concluding with a Motion was likely to be of a character rather too desultory, 191 and would travel over too much ground. Under these circumstances, he should be prepared to put Notice of a Motion on the Paper; not, however, to obtain any triumph for any views which he might entertain, but rather to secure that a comprehensive and full discussion should be had on the subject which he would have the honour of bringing under the notice of their Lordships' House. Perhaps he might say that he had received communications from noble Lords, some of them members of the Royal Commission, stating that they would be unable to be in their places till after the Easter Recess. Accordingly, he would name the 27th of April for the Motion, and before their Lordships separated for the Recess he would put his Resolution on the Notice Paper.