HL Deb 01 May 1888 vol 325 cc1016-8

(The Lord Denman.)

SECOND READING.

Order of the Day for the Second Reading, read.

LORD DENMAN ,

in moving that the Bill be now read a second time, said, he hoped that the Bill not being printed would not prevent their Lordships from giving it a second reading. Last year the noble Viscount the Secretary of State for India (Viscount Cross) said it was not necessary in their Lordships' House; but an experienced reporter wrote in the Christmas number, 1884, of The English Illustrated Magazine, a description of the debates. He (Lord Denman) thought it so likely to cause offence that he bought up all the copies he could secure at the Derby Station, and at the publishers; he cut out that which might have given his neighbour (the Earl of Wemyss) pain, and sent the article to his Lordship, leaving in only that their Lordships thought him a little "verbose;" but his Lordship wrote that he had seen an "unexpurgated" copy. Certainly, last Session the noble Earl spoke for an hour and 10 minutes; and the noble Earl, on his Bill as to the constitution of the House of Lords, spoke for an hour and 40 minutes. The Bill allowed 15 minutes before the notice of time should be given. Few Lords would wish to get up to stop a speaker; but the Bill could be altered in Committee, and any Bill initiated in either house of Parliament, if agreed to by the other, became law. There had been Notice of a Bill on the subject in the House of Commons, but he had not been able to see it, although a day was appointed for its second reading. He would delay the appointment of the Committee to such a time as might suit both sides of their Lordships' House. He was no Party man, though his Father, before he became a Judge, wrote— I am very glad you still take The Morning Chronicle, having an unalterable attachment to old friends and old faces, which no new engagements ever efface. The noble Lord concluded by moving that the Bill be now read a second time.

Moved, "That the Bill be now read 2a."—(The Lord Denman.)

THE LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (Viscount CRANBROOK)

said, that he was sorry, in the absence of his noble Friend at the head of the Government, to have to ask to be allowed to interpose for a short time. This Bill was absolutely unnecessary in that House, as they could regulate their proceedings by their own Standing Orders without requiring an Act of Parliament for the purpose. He did not think that they should make any attempt to regulate the proceedings of the other House of Parliament, and therefore he moved that the Bill be read a second time that day six months.

Amendment moved, to leave out ("now,") and add at the end of the Motion ("this day six months.")—(The Lord President.)

On Question, That ("now") shall stand part of the Motion?

Resolved in the negative; and Bill to be read 2a on this day six months.