§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading, read.
* THE UNDER SECRETARY FOR WAR (Lord HARRIS)I will state to your Lordships briefly the ground on which it has been thought necessary to take the somewhat unusual course with regard to a Private Bill of opposing its Second Reading. The course is unusual for this reason—that, as a rule, when the Government thinks it necessary to oppose a Bill on the ground that it would interfere with the national defences, the promoters withdraw it. On this occasion there was no intimation of intention to withdraw the Bill, and the Secretary of State and his military advisers considered that this line, as proposed in the Bill, would be a standing menace to the Gosport Forts, and, therefore, felt bound to oppose it. I am happy to say that clauses have been agreed to which, to a great extent, remove these military objections; but the Secretary of State also agrees to an adjournment on the understanding that consideration will be given to the possibility of the line taking another route. It is not necessary now to state what the direction is, but, if your Lordships look at the map which has been circulated, it is obvious that it will 1106 be possible to construct a line which will reach Fareham by such a route that the danger I have indicated will be obviated.
§ Second Reading put off to Thursday, the 14th inst.