§ On the Order for the Second Reading of this Bill,
§ THE MARQUESS OF RIPON saidThis is distinctly a non-contentious Bill, because I have placed myself in communication with the Secretary of State for War with regard to it, and the right hon. Gentleman informed me this morning that, as no Under Secretary had been appointed at present to represent the 47 Colonial Office in this House, he would be glad if I would proceed with the Bill, and he would take charge of it when it reaches the other House. It is an extremely simple matter. Some time ago the law officers of the Crown gave an opinion that there were doubts as to the legality of certain, small annexations to some of our colonies. The doubts had reference chiefly to certain colonies, the boundaries of which are defined by Acts of Parliament. The Law Officers thought it was doubtful whether the boundaries so defined could be altered, either by contraction or expansion, without an Act of Parliament. Some small islands have been added to New Zealand; and the boundaries of some Australian colonies have been altered. The doubts relate to cases of that kind. The Bill is urgent in this sense, that questions of the kind having been once raised as to the legality of certain proceedings, it is of the greatest possible importance to put an end to those doubts without delay. Therefore, in accordance with the wish of Her Majesty's Government, I move the Second Reading of the Bill. In order to expedite its passing through the other House, I will now give notice that to-morrow I will move the suspension of the Standing Orders and ask you to pass the Bill through the other stages.
Read 2a (according to Order), and committed to a Committee of the Whole House To-morrow; and Standing Order No. 39 to be considered in order to its being dispensed with.