§ Order of the Day for the Third Reading, read.
§ LORD HERSCHELL, in moving that the Bill be now read a third time, appealed to the noble Marquess (the Marquess of Salisbury) to use his influence 873 in passing it through the other House this Session.
§ Moved, "That the Bill be now read 3a."—(The Lord Herschell.)
§ THE PRIME MINISTER AND SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (The Marquess of SALISBURY)said, he was a very sincere supporter of the principle of the Bill, and he would do anything in his power to promote it. He held that the Bill was of the greatest possible value, and he was very anxious to pass it through the House of Commons. But, under considerable pressure, a certain arrangement had been arrived at, and the progress of the measure might be affected by it. That part of the Bill which gave fuller power to trustees he believed it was desirable to pass, not only for the benefit of the system of trusts, but also in justice to many of our Colonies whose finance had taken a place in the finance of the world. He would be sorry if the Bill were rejected, and he was sure that the interest of the Exchequer was one which could not justly be put forward as an argument in this case. The only thing against the passing of the Bill would be that universal destroyer—time.
§ Motion agreed to; Bill read 3a accordingly.
§ Amendments made; Bill passed, and sent to the Commons.