HL Deb 12 February 1880 vol 250 cc486-7

Order of the Day for the Second Reading, read.

THE LORD CHANCELLOR

, in moving that the Bill be now read a second time, said, that before the measure was carried through its present stage he wished to say a word with reference to further proceedings in regard to it. He had stated a few nights ago that the Government hoped his noble Friend (Earl De La Warr), who had another Bill—an alternative measure—on the same subject down for Second Reading to-night, would be satisfied with giving his valuable assistance in the labours of the Select Committee to which he hoped the Government Bill would be referred, and would not ask the House to come to a determination on the question of the Second Reading of his measure. He could assure the noble Earl that his suggestion did not arise from a desire to prevent his noble Friend from bringing any of his propositions before the Select Committee. The Government were anxious that every proposition should be fully and deliberately weighed by the Committee; and if his noble Friend would, as he hoped he would, consent to serve on the Committee, it would be in his power to oppose any clause in the Bill, and to offer, by way of amendment, any part of his own measure. On the other hand, he would point out to the noble Earl the difficulty there would be in passing the Second Reading of both Bills. If they were passed, the House would be committed to the two, and it would be a question which should be proceeded with first. He hoped the noble Earl would allow his Bill to remain in abeyance at the present time.

Moved,"That the Bill be now read 2ª".—(The Lord Chancellor.)

EARL DE LA WARR

said, that, after the explanation given by the noble and learned. Earl as to the course which he proposed to pursue, he could not object in any way to the suggestion he had made. He hoped the matter would be settled in a manner satisfactory not only to employers of labour, but also to the employed. The question involved was one which agitated the minds of a very large number of persons; and he trusted that on the Committee to which the Bill was to be referred both sides of their Lordships' House would be represented. No fewer than 400 or 500 Petitions had been presented last year in favour of the Bill he had introduced; and he believed he should not be exaggerating if he said that the subject of it interested no less than 500,000 people.

Motionagreed to;Bill read 2ª accordingly, andreferredto a Select Committee.

And, on February 26, the Lords following were named of the Committee:—

Ld. Chancellor. V. Cranbrook.
Ld. President. L. Zouche of Haryngworth.
D. Somerset.
M. Ripon. L. Colville of Culross.
Ld. Steward. L. Belper.
E. Derby. L. Houghton.
E. Shaftesbury. L. Penzance.
B. De La Warr. L. Selborne.
E. Powis. L. Blackburn.
E. Morley. L. Norton.