§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
THE EARL OF BELMORE, in moving that the Order be discharged, said, the Bill was practically the same as one which had last year passed through the House of Commons, and which he had had charge of in their Lordships' House. That Bill was no doubt opposed by the late Government, and some of the details of it were objected to, and, besides, it was considered that it had come up at too late a period of the Session. But the principle of it was approved by every noble and learned Lord who was then present. He had, therefore, been allowed to withdraw the Bill, and he had re-introduced it at the earliest period of the present Session. Since the Bill had been printed a Bill with a similar object had been introduced in the House of Commons. It was not exactly the same as tills Bill, but it would have practically the same effect; it was an improvement upon it, and from what he had learned he had reason to think that if the Bill got through the other House it would come here still more improved. He would therefore postpone this Bill, and take charge of the other one, if it reached this House; and in that case he would eventually withdraw the present one. He would, therefore, move that the Order for the Second Reading should be discharged.
§ Moved, "That the Order for the Second Reading be discharged."—(The Earl of Belmore.)
§ Motion agreed to; Order discharged.