§ 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 GRANVILLEMy 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.