§ Order of the Day for the House to be put into Committee, read.
THE EARL OF DALHOUSIEsaid, he would suggest the withdrawal of the Bill. Since the last stage of the Bill was reached communications in reference to it had been received from the States of Jersey and the Governor of the Isle of Man. The former pointed out that the Imperial Parliament had never exercised the right to legislate for the Channel Islands, and that the passing of this Bill by Parliament would establish a precedent which would be highly inconvenient to the States of Jersey. It was also urged that the object of the Bill would be much more easily obtained by an Act of the local Legislature than by one passed by the Imperial Legislature. As to the Isle of Man, the Governor stated that there was no objection entertained on the Island to this particular Bill; but that it would be more convenient and proper that it should be submitted to the Tynwald, and by them passed into law. On these grounds, he appealed to his noble Friend to consider whether it would be well to ask the House to proceed with the Bill; but if he did so, he (the Earl of Dalhousie) would, on the part of the Government, feel obliged to oppose it on the third reading.
§ LORD BELPERsaid, that the statement of the noble Earl had placed him in some difficulty. He had received a 1602 letter from the Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man, and he understood that there was no opposition to the Bill. He hoped that the Government would give some assurance that the necessary Orders in Council would be passed to enable the provisions of the Bill to be carried out.
THE EARL OF DALHOUSIEsaid, he believed that by this time next year, at least, there was some chance that there would be no further necessity for legislation.
Order discharged, and Bill (by leave of the House) withdrawn.