SECOND READING. (Hansard, 10 April 1883)

LORD BALFOUR
said, it was a somewhat unusual course to take on the same day—the second reading of two Bills on the same subject, but on different lines; 1962 and he thought it would be a more convenient course, if they were to postpone the second reading of this Bill of the noble Earl's (the Earl of Galloway) for a month or two, so as to give noble Lords an opportunity of considering in Committee the Bill which had already been read a second time, and if any Peer was not satisfied with it, he could move Amendments to it in Committee.

LORD MONCRIEFF
said, it was not out of the ordinary practice to have two Bills on the same lines read a second time on the same day; and he thought it would rather jar on the general feeling, either to throw out this Bill, or postpone the second reading. He was sure that no bad result would accrue from doing so.

THE LORD CHANCELLOR
said, he had no desire to throw any difficulty in the way of adopting any course that seemed most desirable to the House; but he took it for granted that if the Bill was read a second time, the noble Earl would not fix an earlier date for the Committee than that which had been fixed for the other Bill—namely. March 4.

THE DUKE OF RICHMOND AND GORDON
said, he thought the noble Earl (the Earl of Galloway) would do well not to press the second reading of his Bill at the present time, as it would be extremely inconvenient to have two Bills upon the same subject before them, and, besides, he would have an opportunity of proposing any Amendments he desired on the Bill of the Lord Chancellor. If the Bills were the same, one was unnecessary; if they were different, their Lordships would be undoing what they had just done.

THE MARQUESS OF HUNTLY
said, it was only due to the noble Earl (the Earl of Galloway) that the Bill should be read a second time on that occasion, seeing that the noble Earl drew it up last Session; but when it had been read a second time, he would suggest that it should not be put down for Committee until after the Whitsuntide Holidays.

THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIAN
said, he entirely agreed with what had fallen from the noble Duke (the Duke of Richmond and Gordon), and he was surprised that the second reading had not been withdrawn, as he was convinced, under the circumstances, that it would be extremely inconvenient to have two Bills on parallel lines; therefore, if the Bill 1963 was not withdrawn, he trusted that the House would reject it entirely.

THE EARL OF GALLOWAY
said, he did not wish to inconvenience their Lordships; but the course he suggested was not without precedent. Just before the Easter Recess, two Bills on the same subject had been read a second time in the House of Commons on the same night. He would point out that his Bill was ordered to be printed on the 10th of July last year. He had duties to attend to in Scotland up to the middle of August, and he had the Bill put down for a day in that month, thinking it would be accepted practically without amendment. Meantime, there were a number of Amendments put on the Paper; and he was simply studying their Lordships' convenience by withdrawing the Bill last Session, on the understanding that he would re-introduce it at the earliest opportunity this Session. He asked their Lordships to act on the recommendation of the noble and learned Earl (the Lord Chancellor), and allow the Bill to be read a second time that night, in which case he would undertake not to bring it on before the Committee before the 29th of May.

THE LORD CHANCELLOR
said, it would be a convenient course if the noble Earl would withdraw the Bill. But, at the same time, he wished personally to take the course which was most courteous towards the noble Earl. He thought that, without compromising the principle their Lordships had affirmed, he might be at liberty to indulge the desire of the noble Earl if he pressed for a second reading of the Bill.

CONTENTS.
Selborne, E. (L. Chancellor.)	Hopetoun, L. (E. Hopetoun.)
Ailsa, M.	Meldrum, L. (M. Huntly.) [Teller.]
	Moncreiff, L.
Denbigh, E.	Stewart of Garlies, L. (E. Galloway.) [Teller.]
Sidmouth, V.
Strathallan, V.	Vaux of Harrowden, L.
Blantyre, L.	Watson, L.
Brabourne, L.	Wentworth, L.
Clements, L. (E. Leitrim.)	Wigan, L. (E. Crawford and Balcarres.)
Congleton, L.	Zouche of Haryngworth, L.
Dunsany, L.
Ellenborough, L.

NOT-CONTENTS.
Bedford, D.	Elphinstone, L.
Richmond, D.	Fitzgerald, L.
Westminster D.	Foxford, L. (E. Limerick.]
Belmore, E. [Teller.]	Hartismere, L. [L. Henniker.]
Doncaster, E. [D. Buceleuch and Queensberry.]
	Hothfield, L.
	Inchiquin, L.
Lathom, E.	Ker, L. (M. Lothian.] [Teller.]
Mar and Kellie, E.
Redesdale, E.	Kinnaird, L.
	Monson, L.
Cranbrook, V.	Ormonde, L. [M. Ormonde.]
Balfour of Burleigh, L.	Reay, L.
Belper, L.	Romilly, L.
Blachford, L.	Saltoun, L.
Carrington, L.	Sudeley, L.
Coleridge, L.	Thurlow, L.
Douglas, L. (E. Home.]	Wrottesley, L.