Lords Sitting of 12 June 1894

Preamble
The Earl of Carnarvon—Took the Oath.
PRIZE COURTS BILL.—(No. 56.)

  SECOND READING.
  Order of the Day for the Second Reading, reach.
  THE LORD CHANCELLOR (Lord HERSCHELL): My Lords, this is a Bill upon which I need not trouble your Lordships with an explanation at any length. It is a measure which has been for a considerable time under discussion at the Colonial Office. The discussion of the question commenced during the time of the late Government, and I believe that this measure meets the views of the noble Lord who presided formerly over the Colonial Office, and of the noble Marquess who is now at the head of the Office. It is a matter which I have myself considered, and I am satisfied that in its present shape it can properly be passed. It is merely a measure providing a mode in which, when necessary, Prize Courts can be established in British possessions, a matter in reference to which some doubt has existed heretofore as to the proper mode of proceeding.
  Moved, "That the Bill be now read 2a"—(The Lord Chancellor.)
  *LORD KNUTSFORD: My Lords, I may be permitted to say that this subject was under consideration when I had the honour of being Secretary of State for the Colonies, and was very carefully considered. The object of this Bill is, in truth, to supplement the Colonial Courts of Admiralty Act, which was passed in 1890. The subject is not free from difficulty, and I may refer to two points which required careful consideration. In the first place, care had to be taken to secure that the Vice Admiral, or in other words the Governor of the Colony, should not prematurely declare that war had broken out. That is secured, I think, by the 2nd sub-section of the 2nd section of the Bill. The Vice Admiral of any
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  possession may, when satisfied by information from a Secretary of State or otherwise, that war has broken out between Her Majesty and any foreign State, proclaim that war has so broken out. And there is also this safeguard: that his powers with regard to action in this direction are subject to instructions from Her Majesty. In that way sufficient precaution is taken that Governors shall not prematurely declare war. The second difficulty which arose with regard to Prize Courts was that, speaking generally, the Colonial Courts of Admiralty created by the Act of 1890 might be safely trusted to act as Prize Courts. This would be the case in all the important colonies; but there are a great variety of Courts in the different colonies of more or less weight and influence, and therefore it was quite necessary to preserve to Her Majesty the power of modifying the composition and Regulations of the Court in any particular colony so as to act as a Prize Court, and also the power of establishing special Vice Admiralty Courts to act as Prize Courts. Those difficulties appear to me to be removed by this Bill, and therefore I heartily support the Second Reading.
  Motion agreed to; Bill read 2a accordingly, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Monday next.

PUBLIC WORKS LOANS BILL.—(No. 90.)

  SECOND BEADING.
  Order of the Day for the Second Reading, read.
  THE EARL OF BELMOREwished, before the Bill was read a second time, to direct the attention of the noble Earl in charge of it to one point. He had no wish to delay; the present stage of the Bill, but a point arose on the fourth clause relating to Ireland which would require serious consideration, because it would affect the position of the sureties for some of these public loans in Ireland. He hoped, therefore, the noble Earl would consent not to hurry on the Bill, but would delay the Committee stage to Friday or some other day that might be convenient.
  THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY AND LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (The Earl of ROSEBERY): I am rather sorry about this, because the

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  Treasury are extremely anxious to get it through, and I was going to move the suspension of the Standing Orders in order to dispose of it on Thursday. The Treasury is extremely anxious to get it through; but if the noble Lord will state what his point is I will call the attention of the Treasury to it, and deal with the matter on Thursday.
  THE EARL OF BELMOREwas sorry it was not in his power to make a statement at once. His attention had only been called to the matter that morning, and he had not the information required by the noble Earl.
  THE EARL OF ROSEBERY: Perhaps the noble Earl would communicate privately with me to-morrow.
  THE EARL OF BELMOREsaid he would do so.
  Bill read 2a accordingly, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Thursday next.

PISTOLS BILL [H.L.]—(No. 40.)
Reported from the Standing Committee with further Amendments: The Report of the Amendments made in Committee of the Whole House and by the Standing Committee to be received on Thursday next; and Bill to be printed as amended. (No. 102.)
MUSIC AND DANCING LICENCES (MIDDLESEX) BILL.—(No. 69.)
Reported from the Standing Committee with Amendments: The Report thereof to be received on Thursday next; and Bill to be printed as amended. (No. 103.)
COMMISSIONERS OF WORKS BILL. (No. 68.)
Reported from the Standing Committee without Amendment, and to be read 3a on Thursday next.
ARBITRATION (SCOTLAND) BILL [H.L.] (No. 78.)
Reported from the Standing Committee with Amendments: The Report thereof to be received on Thursday next; and Bill to be printed as amended. (No. 104.)

INDIAN RAILWAY COMPANIES BILL. (No. 101.)
Reported from the Standing Committee without further Amendment: The
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Report of the Amendments made in Committee of the Whole House to be received on Thursday next.

GAS ORDERS CONFIRMATION (No. 1) BILL [H.L.]—(No. 41.)
House in Committee (according to Order): Amendments made: Standing Committee negatived: The Report of Amendments to be received on Thursday next.
EDUCATION PROVISIONAL ORDER CONFIRMATION (LONDON) BILL [H.L.] (No. 55.)
Read 2a (according to Order).
ELEMENTARY EDUCATION PROVISIONAL ORDERS CONFIRMATION (BARRY, &c.) BILL [H.L.]—(No. 54.).
Read 2a (according to Order).
LOCAL GOVERNMENT (IRELAND) PROVISIONAL ORDER (No. 6) BILL. (No. 71.)
Read 2a (according to Order), and committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Friday next.
WEMYSS. &c, WATER PROVISIONAL ORDER BILL—(No. 80.)
Read 2a (according to Order), and committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Friday next.
METROPOLITAN POLICE PROVISIONAL ORDER BILL.—(No. 34.)
Read 2a (according to Order), and committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Friday next.
WATER ORDERS CONFIRMATION BILL [H.L.]—(No. 44.)
Amendments reported (according to Order), and Bill to be read 3a on Thursday next.
ELECTRIC LIGHTING PROVISIONAL ORDERS (No. 3) BILL [H.L.]
Amendments reported (according to Order), and Bill to be read 3a on Thursday next.
ELECTRIC LIGHTING PROVISIONAL ORDERS (No. 4) BILL [H.L.] (No. 47.)
Amendments reported (according to Order), and Bill to be read 3a on Thursday next.
ELECTRIC LIGHTING PROVISIONAL ORDERS (No. 5) BILL [H.L.] (No. 50.)
House in Committee (according to Order): Amendments made: Standing Committee negatived: The Report of Amendments to be received on Thursday next.
GAS ORDERS CONFIRMATION (No. 2) BILL [H.L.]—(No. 42.)
Amendments reported (according to Order), and Bill to be read 3a on Thursday next.
TRAMWAYS ORDERS CONFIRMATION (No. 1) BILL [H.L.]—(No. 43.)
Order for receiving the Report of Amendments read, and discharged.
BURGH POLICE (SCOTLAND) ACT, 1892, AMENDMENT BILL.
Brought from the Commons; read 1a, and to be printed. (No. 105.)
NOTICE OF ACCIDENTS BILL.
Brought from the Commons; read 1a, and to be printed. (No. 106.)

LOCAL GOVERNMENT (IRELAND) PROVISIONAL ORDER (NO. 10) BILL.
Brought from the Commons; read 1a; to be printed; and referred to the Examiners. (No. 107.)
House adjourned at a quarter before Six o'clock, to Thursday next, a quarter past Ten o'clock.