§ Order of the Day for the Third Reading read.
§ Moved," That the Bill be now read 3a."—(The Earl of Kimberley.)
LORD STRATHEDEN AND CAMPBELL,in rising to move that the Bill be read a third time that day three months, said, he would remind the House that he had stated several objections to the Bill on the second reading, though, in the face of those objections, the House had read the Bill a second time and passed it through Committee. But in its progress through those stages new facts had been elicited which showed that the Spring Gardens site for the proposed Public Offices was not the proper one, and that the Parliament Street and George Street site was to be preferred. That was not only so in an architectural, but also in a sound and economical, point of view. Accordingly, his object now in opposing the third reading was to give their Lordships an opportunity of reconsidering the matter. This Bill was entirely in defiance of architectural opinion. It was in defiance of the decision of the tribunal of 1874, and it was contrary to the evidence of 1877. It would simply result in the destruction of Spring Gardens and the Admiralty, and would 1213 be followed by embittered controversies as to the destination of a site that ought never to have been desecrated. He would conclude by moving the Amendment of which he had given Notice.
§ Amendment moved, to leave out ("now") and add at the end of the Motion ("this day three months.")—(The Lord Stratheden and Campbell.)
§ On Question, That ("now") stand part of the Motion?
§ Resolved in the Affirmative.
§ Bill read 3a accordingly, and passed.
§ House adjourned at a quarter before Eight o'clock, till To-morrow, a quarter past Ten o'clock.