§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading, read.
§ Moved, "That the Bill be now read 2a."
*THE CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES (The Earl of MORLEY)said, it would be convenient to point out that presumably it would be impossible to proceed beyond the stage of Second Reading until the Report of the Betterment Committee had been received.
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYhad no doubt that if the Bill was pressed forward now the clause dealing with the 1322 betterment question would occasion controversy, and therefore he supposed that for their own interests the promoters would not desire to do so until the Committee now deliberating on the question had reported. The House had expressed an opinion on the subject.
§ THE LORD CHANCELLOR (Lord HERSCHELL)said, a Resolution had not been passed by the House. An Amendment had been made in a particular Private Bill, and there was nothing to stand in the way of it. Probably it would be better to postpone the further stage until the Report had been made by the pending Committee. It was an Amendment upon a particular Private Bill at the time.
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYsaid, with great deference to the noble and learned Lord, it was an indication of the opinion of the House which no Committee could object to. It came under no Standing Order, nor any Order at all, but was an expression of the opinion of the House, which, in making their Report, the Committee was bound to take notice of.
§ THE LORD CHANCELLOR (Lord HERSCHELL)said, it was an expression of opinion upon an Amendment in a Private Bill under the then existing circumstances, but it did not in the least follow that that would be the expression of opinion of the House at all times.
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYsaid, the Bill was exactly the same.
§ THE LORD CHANCELLOR (Lord HERSCHELL)said, the fact that it was upon a particular Private Bill at the time in the particular circumstances was a material point to be considered.
*THE EARL OF ONSLOWhoped that, having consented to the Second Reading on the understanding that the Committee stage would not be taken till the Select Committee had reported, that the House would be given another opportunity of expressing an opinion on the Bill before it passed into law.
*THE EARL OF MORLEYhad not intended to imply that the Bill could not be proceeded with. At the same time, it was quite clear there had been a distinct expression of opinion by the House on the question of betterment; and till the House by a subsequent expression of opinion had rescinded or modified the resolution of last year, any Committee 1323 would practically be bound to act in accordance with that resolution.
§ LORD HALSBURY,as Chairman of the Committee which had been considering the question, suggested, in the interests of the promoters of the Bill, that it would be very undesirable for their Lordships to send the Bill forward to the Committee stage until that Committee had reported.
§ THE LORD CHANCELLOR (Lord HERSCHELL)desired to point out that it was very desirable indeed the Committee's Report should be made as soon as possible, and hoped that, at all events, it was not intended to kill the Bill.
§ Motion agreed to; Bill read 2a, and committed: The Committee to be proposed by the Committee of Selection.