Lords Sitting of 9 February 1891

COLONISATION (HOUSE OF COMMONS).
Message from the Commons for leave for the Viscount Gordon to attend to be examined as a witness before the Select Committee of that House; leave given to his Lordship to attend if he think fit.
PRIVATE BILL FEES (SCOTLAND).
Message from Commons for a statement of the total fees of the House of Lords on each unopposed Scotch Private Bill since the year 1885: Ordered to be communicated accordingly.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.

  DOVER HARBOUR BILL.
  Order of the Day for the Second Reading, read.
  THE SECRETARY TO THE BOARD OF TRADE (Lord BALFOUR of BURLEIGH): My Lords, before this Bill is read a second time I should like to say, on behalf of the Government, that in assenting to the Second Reading the Government does not depart from its objections to the 45th clause of the Bill as it now stands. We had hoped to have received an undertaking from the promoters that this clause would be deleted in Committee. That undertaking has not been received, and we understand it is not possible for it to have been given before to-day, on account of there not having been a meeting of the Dover Harbour Board. If the Bill is not read a second time to-day the ordinary limit of time for proceeding with that stage of the Bill would expire. Under those circumstances, and being unwilling to stop what may be of importance to the locality on insufficient grounds, the Government assent to the Second Reading, on the undertaking of the promoters that no further steps will be taken without notice to the Government.
  EARL GRANVILLE: My Lords, I do not sympathise with the objections which the Government have raised to this Bill, and I think I shall be able to show good reasons why they are not valid. At the
  194
  same time, I have to acknowledge the great courtesy of the noble Lord in allowing the Bill to go for Second Reading under the circumstances.
  Bill read 2 a.

FLASHING SIGNALS-ADMIRAL COLOMB'S INVENTION.

  QUESTION—OBSERVATIONS.
  LORD SUDELEY: My Lords, I beg to ask Her Majesty's Government when the Return respecting "Admiral Colomb's Flashing Signals," laid on the Table and ordered to be printed on 5th August last, will be delivered? These Papers are of very considerable interest, and have been anxiously looked forward to by the Navy for a long time. It is now six months since they were ordered to be printed, and I hope the noble Lord the Secretary to the Admiralty will be able to say that there is to be no longer delay. I am told that owing to one letter not having been delivered in time delay has been caused; but I understand from Admiral Colomb that the letter was sent in as long ago as the 14th October, and therefore a period of four months has elapsed since. I hope the noble Lord will be able to give a satisfactory answer, as the delay in this matter has caused a great deal of unpleasantness.
  LORD ELPHINSTONE: In answer to the question asked by the noble Lord, the Papers which he refers to are now in the hands of the printer, and will, I hope, be laid on the Table within a very few days. The delay to which he refers has been caused, as I understand, by two long letters having been received by the Government from Admiral Colomb. Those letters it has been necessary to print, and accordingly the Papers have been sent back to the printer. However, I hope in a few days they will be in the hands of the noble Lord.

LICHFIELD CATHEDRAL BILL. [H.L.]—(No. 6.)

  SECOND READING.
  Order of the Day for the Second Reading, read.
  THE BISHOP OF LICHFIELD: I have to ask your Lordships to give a Second Reading to this Bill. It passed through your Lordships' House last year, but failed to obtain a reading in another

  195
  place. I therefore need not give any detailed explanation of it now. It is a simple matter, and I beg to move the Second Reading.
  Bill read 2a (according to order); and committed to a Committee of the whole House to-morrow.

CUSTODY OF CHILDREN BILL. [H.L.]—(No. 31.)

  REPORT.
  Order read, for receiving Report of Amendments.
  LORD NORTON: My Lords, I beg to give notice that on the Third Reading of this Bill I will move the insertion of words in what has been called the "Conscience Clause," that is Clause 4, with regard to religion, which directs that the Court, having rejected the application of a parent as unfit to be entrusted with his child's guardianship, but finding that the child is being brought up in a religion differing from that of its parent may order it to be brought up in his religion. If it is desirable the child should be brought up in that religion which has led to its abandonment and to the unfitness of the parent to take it back again, and available means are to be found for bringing it up in that religion, the Bill should state upon what funds that charge should fall. At present the Bill makes it necessary for the Court to secure that the child shall be brought up in the reprobate parent's religion, and there may be no means for doing that. The Bill should state where the expense, after removing a child from a foster-parents care, should fall, and I beg to give notice that I shall move the insertion of words for that purpose on the Third Reading.
  THE LORD CHANCELLOR: Perhaps the noble Lord will kindly reduce his Amendment into writing. I had intended to move the Third Reading to-morrow night, but if it will be convenient to the noble Lord I will say Thursday.
  LORD NORTON: I will read the words I propose to add—
  "Provided means can be found available for the education of the child in such religion, and any coats so incurred shall be a charge on the school rate, if any, in the district."
  Amendments reported (according to order); and Bill to be read 3a on Thursday next.

  COUNTY COUNCILLORS (QUALIFICATION OF WOMEN BILL [H.L.]
  A Bill to enable women to be elected and to act as County Councillors—Was presented by the Lord Chaworth (E. Meath); read 1a; and to be printed. (No. 32.)
  ELEMENTARY EDUCATION (BLIND AND DEAF) BILL [H.L.]
  A Bill to make better provision for the elementary education of blind and deaf children in England and Wales—Was presented by the Lord President (V. Cranbrook); read 1a; to be printed; and to be read 2a on Friday next. (No. 33.)

  PRESENTATION TO BENEFICES BILL. [H.L.] (No. 5.)
  Read 3a (according to order), and passed, and sent to the Commons.
  House adjourned at twenty-five minutes before Five o'clock, till To-morrow, a quarter past Ten o'clock.