§ Order of the Day for the Third Reading, read.
§ THE LORD CHANCELLOR (Lord HERSCHELL)My Lords, I am sorry to say that my noble Friend (the Marquess of Ripon) is not able to be in his place to-day. He has asked me to move the Third Reading of this Bill and to make a statement with regard to a point which was raised by the noble Marquess in reference to the extension of the Bill to officers in the service of the Indian Government. My noble Friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies has been in communication with the India Office on the subject, and he has arrived at the conclusion that the proposal suggested—namely, that the Bill should extend to Indian Officers—would make it a controversial one. There is certainly not an absolute agreement upon the subject, and I think that will be evident to the noble Marquess from what fell from the late Viceroy of India on the last occasion. I think my noble Friend 334 will understand the anxiety of the noble Marquess not to make a Bill, which is certainly not of a controversial character, a controversial measure, by the introduction of provisions which might endanger its passing without any compensating advantages. That is the reason why the noble Marquess does not propose to deal with that subject in this Bill.
§ Moved, "That the Bill be now read 3ª"—(The Lord Chancellor.)
§ Motion agreed to: Bill read 3ª accordingly, and passed, and sent to the Commons.