* LORD BALFOUR,in rising to move that the Order made on the 5th day of March last,
That no Bill brought from the House of Commons confirming any Provisional Order or Provisional Certificate shall be read a second time after Friday, the 28th of June next,be dispensed with, in order to enable a number of Electric Lighting Provisional Orders Bills to be read 2a said: My Lords, the House will require a word or two of explanation from me in making the Motion which stands in my name. I am glad to be able to say that it is the last time, as far as I know this Session, that I shall have to appeal for any suspension of the Sessional Orders. The circumstances under which it is necessary in this case are as follow:—Your Lordships are aware that last year an Act was passed amending the conditions under which Provisional Orders could be granted for the supply of the electric light throughout the country; and the consequence of that has been that a very large number of applications have been made, and those which are before the House are the first of the applications under the Act of last year. In consequence of the circumstances, a very great deal of discussion had to take place with the various Local Authorities concerned. The first of these Bills concerns Local Authorities in the country, and I believe the Orders confirmed by it are absolutely unopposed. With regard to the other Orders, which concern the Metropolis as well as the private Bill which has been just now moved on behalf of the Chairman of Committees, a very great deal of discussion also took place, and so important were the issues involved to the people of the Metropolis that the Board of Trade thought it necessary to have a special inquiry. 4 That inquiry extended over 18 days, before Major Marindin, one of the officials of the Board, and a Report was made upon the whole subject. Even subsequently to that Report, a very great deal of discussion and negotiation had to be gone through; so much, indeed, that the Bills confirming the Orders could not be presented to the other House in accordance with the Sessional Orders. But the other House suspended the Sessional Orders, and referred the Bill to a strong Committee, presided over by Sir George Trevelyan. The result was that, on every material point, the decision of Major Marindin was confirmed. The appeal I now make to your Lordships is that you will not allow this very large amount of discussion and expense to be wasted, but that you will suspend the Sessional Order and allow the Bills to be read a second time. I therefore beg to move accordingly.
§ The Resolution was agreed to, and the said Bill read 2a accordingly.