§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
§ LORD SUDELEY, in rising to move that the Bill be now read a second time, said, its object was to enable the Metropolitan Board of Works to direct what proportion of the expense of the improvements should be defrayed by the parishes.
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY, interposing, inquired whether this was not a privileged Bill?
THE EARL OF KIMBERLEYsaid, the Bill simply affected the rates, and the practice was less severe with regard to rates than it was with regard to taxation.
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYobserved that this might be made a precedent for future occasions.
THE EARL OF CAMPERDOWNsaid, it was remarkable that when it suited the Government they pleaded that Bills were privileged; but, on the other hand, when they wanted to go on they ignored the question of privilege. He hoped the question would be settled on this Bill.
§ LORD SUDELEYsaid, that as there appeared to be some doubt on the matter he begged to postpone his Motion for the second reading of the Bill until after Whitsuntide.
§ Second Reading put off to Tuesday the 17th of June next.