Lords Sitting of 22 August 1881

MINUTES.
SELECT COMMITTEE—Second Re-port—Office of the Clerk of the Parliaments and Office of the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod [No. 220].
PUBLIC BILLS—First Reading—Regulation of the Forces * (221); India Office Auditor (Superannuation) * (222); Newspapers (Law of
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Libel) * (223); Sale of Intoxicating Liquors on Sunday (Wales) * (224).
Second Reading—Expiring Laws Continuance.
Committee—Report—Pollen Fishing (Ireland) * (218).
Royal Assent—Consolidated Fund (No. 4) [44 & 45 Vict. c. 50]; Removal Terms (Burghs) (Scotland) [44 & 45 Vict. c. 39]; Public Works Loans [44 & 45 Vict. c. 38]; Solicitors' Remuneration [44 & 45 Vict. c. 44]; Conveyancing and Law of Property [44 & 45 Vict. c. 41]; Metropolitan Board of Works (Money) [44 & 45 Vict. c. 48]; Superannuation (Post Office and Works) [44 & 45 Vict. c. 43]; Corrupt Practices (Suspension of Elections) [44 & 45 Vict. c. 42]; Pedlars (Certificates) [44 & 45 Vict. c. 45]; Presumption of Life (Scotland) [44 & 45 Vict. c. 47]; Patriotic Fund [44 & 45 Vict. c. 46]; Universities (Scotland) Registration of Parliamentary Voters, &c. [44 & 45 Vict. c. 40]; Land Law (Ireland) [44 & 45 Vict. c. 49]; Royal University of Ireland [44 & 45 Vict. c. 52]; Wild Birds Protection Act, 1880, Amendment [44 & 45 Viet. c. 51]; East Indian Railway (Redemption of Annuities) [44 & 45 Vict. c. 53]; Indian Loan of 1879 "[44 & 45 Vict. c. 54]; National Debt [44 & 45 Vict. c. 55].

REGULATION OF THE FORCES BILL
(The Earl of Morley.)
REGULATION OF THE FORCES BILL

  FIRST BEADING.
  Order of the Day for the First Reading read.
  Moved, "That the Bill be now read 1a" —(The Earl of Morley.)
  THE EARL OF LONGFORDsaid, that it was an important Bill containing 54 clauses, dealing with a considerable portion of the administration of the Service, and yet it came up to that House at a time when it was impossible it could receive the consideration to which it was entitled. He understood that it had made several changes in almost every branch of the Service. The result of that haste in legislation was that the Bill would have to pass through its several stages without remark. He had formerly had occasion to call attention to the capricious way in which changes were made in the Service, and innovations were vexatious when they were made without sufficient reason and without fair discussion. The Queen's Army was not inert matter, on which Departments could operate at discretion. It was a very highly organized and sensitive machine, and everything connected with it should be very carefully and wisely considered. That, he thought, did not appear to have been done in the recent changes of administration at which the Government had

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  tried their hands. He had heard there was yet another Bill which had not seen the light, which it was intended to pass through both Houses this week.
  THE EARL OF NORTHBROOKsaid, that he did not think there was anything in this Bill which was likely to expose it to the criticisms of the noble Earl. It did not make any changes of a serious character that were likely to be vexatious to the Service, neither was it of the great importance the noble Earl seemed to suppose. He understood that it only dealt with matters of detail, and his noble Friend the Under Secretary of State for War would be able to give the necessary explanations at the next stage of the Bill.
  Motion agreed to.
  Bill read 1"; and to he printed. (No. 221.)

NEWSPAPERS (LAW OF LIBEL) BILL.
(The Lord Waveney.)
NEWSPAPERS (LAW OF LIBEL) BILL.

  FIRST READING.
  Order of the Day for the First Beading read.
  Moved, "That the Bill be now road 1 a." —(The Lord Waveney.)
  THE EARL OF REDESDALE (CHAIRMAN of COMMITTEES)said, he hoped it was not intended to go on with the Bill this Session, when there were scarcely any Peers on the Opposition side, and no Peer of legal knowledge remaining to critize such an important subject as a change in the Law of Libel, or to inform the House what the Bill proposed to do.
  THE LORD CHANCELLORsaid, it was intended to go on with the Bill, and he hoped it would be passed. He had every reason to believe that the Bill had been very carefully considered by the Law Officers of the Crown.
  EARL GRANVILLEsaid, not only was it so, but it had received the approval of one of the Law Officers of the late Government, and had received great consideration in the other House. He hoped their Lordships would pass it this Session.
  Motion agreed to.
  Bill read 1a; and to be printed. (No. 223.)
  House adjourned at Four o'clock, till To-morrow, Five o'clock.