Lords Sitting of 24 June 1895

PRIVATE BUSINESS.

  LONDON COUNTY COUNCIL (TOWER BRIDGE SOUTHERN APPROACH) BILL.
  THE CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES (The Earl of MORLEY)THE CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES (The Earl of MORLEY) moved the Second Reading of this Bill.
  THE EARL OF DENBIGHsaid, that on such an occasion, when they were awaiting a statement of great importance, he would not detain their Lordships by speaking on the Second Reading of a private Bill; but he wished to say, as a Member of the Committee which inquired into the Betterment question last year, and the only Committee of either House which had gone into the question, that very great objection was taken to the Bill as it now came before their Lordships' House; and when the Bill came back from the Committee for a Third Reading it would probably be examined in great detail. For the present he merely wished to enter a protest against the terms of a compromise arrived at by certain parties in the London County Council, and to say that this compromise was regarded by a great number of persons who had been no parties to it themselves as being very inequitable and very unjust.
  Bill read 2a.

PROVISIONAL ORDER BILLS.

  EDUCATION PROVISIONAL ORDER CON FIRMATION (LONDON) BILL. [H.L.]
  Reported from the Select Committee with Amendments, and committed to a Committee of the whole House.
  The following Bills were brought from the Commons, and read 1a.

  FRIENDLY SOCIETIES BILL (No. 161).
  OUTDOOR RELIEF (IRELAND) BILL (No. 162).
  VOLUNTEERS (MILITARY SERVICE) BILL (No. 163).
  BURGH POLICE (SCOTLAND) PROVISIONAL ORDER (PAISLEY) BILL (No. 164).
  DRAINAGE AND IMPROVEMENT OF LANDS (IRELAND) PROVISIONAL ORDER BILL (No. 165).
  LOCAL GOVERNMENT (IRELAND) PROVISIONAL ORDER (No. 7) BILL (No. 166.)
  LOCAL GOVERNMENT (IRELAND) PROVISIONAL ORDER (No. 8) BILL (No. 167).
  LOCAL GOVERNMENT (IRELAND) PROVISIONAL ORDER (No. 9) BILL (No. 168).
  LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROVISIONAL ORDERS (No. 5) BILL (No. 169).
  LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROVISIONAL ORDERS (No. 8) BILL (No. 170).
  LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROVISIONAL ORDERS (No. 9) BILL (No. 171).
  LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROVISIONAL ORDERS (No. 11) BILL (No. 172).
  LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROVISIONAL ORDERS (No. 12) BILL (No. 173).
  LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROVISIONAL ORDERS (No. 13) BILL (No. 174).
  LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROVISIONAL ORDER (HOUSING OF WORKING CLASSES) (No. 2) BILL (No. 175).
  LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROVISIONAL ORDERS (POOR LAW) BILL (No. 176).
  The following were returned from the Commons, agreed to:—
  ELEMENTARY EDUCATION PROVISIONAL ORDER CONFIRMATION (ACTON) BILL [H.L.]
  ELEMENTARY EDUCATION PROVISIONAL ORDER CONFIRMATION (BRISTOL) BILL [H.L.]
  ELEMENTARY EDUCATION PROVISIONAL ORDER CONFIRMATION (CROYDON) BILL [H.L.]
  ELEMENTARY EDUCATION PROVISIONAL ORDER CONFIRMATION (HORNSEY) BILL [H.L.]
  ELEMENTARY EDUCATION PROVISIONAL ORDERS CONFIRMATION (LEEDS) BILL [H.L.]
  ELEMENTARY EDUCATION PROVISIONAL ORDER CONFIRMATION (LIVERPOOL) BILL [H.L.]
  ELEMENTARY EDUCATION PROVISIONAL ORDER CONFIRMATION (LLANGOLLEN) BILL [H.L.]
  ELEMENTARY EDUCATION PROVISIONAL ORDER CONFIRMATION (LONGBENTON) BILL H.L.]
  ELEMENTARY EDUCATION PROVISIONAL ORDER CONFIRMATION (LOWESTOFT) BILL [H.L.]
  ELEMENTARY EDUCATION PROVISIONAL ORDER CONFIRMATION (MANCHESTER) BILL [H.L.]
  ELEMENTARY EDUCATION PROVISIONAL ORDER CONFIRMATION (PWLLHELI) BILL [H.L.]
  ELEMENTARY EDUCATION PROVISIONAL ORDER CONFIRMATION (WESTON-SUPER-MARE) BILL [H.L.]
  ELEMENTARY EDUCATION PROVISIONAL ORDER CONFIRMATION (WILMINGTON) BILL [H.L.]
  ELEMENTARY EDUCATION PROVISIONAL ORDER CONFIRMATION (TOTTENHAM) BILL [H.L.]
  House in Committee (according to Order): Amendments made: Standing Committee negatived: The Report of amendments to be received To-morrow.
  The following were read 2a (according to Order), and committed to a Committee of the Whole House To-morrow:—

  COMMONS REGULATION (BEXHILL) PRO VISIONAL ORDER BILL.
  COMMONS REGULATION (HALIFAX) PROVISIONAL ORDER BILL.
  INOLOSURE (CASTOR AND AILSWORTH) PROVISIONAL ORDER BILL.
  LOCAL GOVERNMENT (IRELAND) PROVISIONAL ORDER (No. 5) BILL.
  PIER AND HARBOUR PROVISIONAL ORDER (No. 3) BILL.
  The following were read 3a (according to order), and passed—
  LOCAL GOVERNMENT (IRELAND) PRO VISIONAL ORDERS (No. 3) BILL.
  LOCAL GOVERNMENT (IRELAND) PROVISIONAL ORDER (No. 4) BILL.
  METROPOLITAN POLICE PROVISIONAL ORDER BILL.
  ELECTRIC LIGHTING PROVISIONAL ORDERS (No. 1) BILL.
  ELECTRIC LIGHTING PROVISIONAL ORDERS (No. 2) BILL.
  ELECTRIC LIGHTING PROVISIONAL ORDERS (No. 3.) BILL.
  PIER AND HARBOUR PROVISIONAL ORDERS (No. 1) BILL.
  The following were read 3a (according to Order), and passed, and sent to the Commons:—
  ELECTRIC LIGHTING PROVISIONAL ORDERS (No. 5.) BILL [H.L.]
  ELECTRIC LIGHTING PROVISIONAL ORDERS (No. 6.) BILL [H.L.]
  GAS ORDERS CONFIRMATION BILL [H.L.]; and
  GAS AND WATER ORDERS CONFIRMATION
  BILL [H.L.]
  Amendments reported (according to Order); and Bills to be read 3a Tomorrow.

  TRAMWAYS ORDERS CONFIRMATION (No. 1.) BILL [H.L.]
  Read 3a(according to Order), and passed, and sent to the Commons.

  CANAL RATES, TOLLS, AND CHARGES PROVISIONAL ORDER BILLS.
  Moved—That the Message of the House of Commons of the 17th instant with respect to the following Bills, viz.:—
  Canal Rates, Tolls, and Charges Provisional Order (Strabane Canal) Bill;
  Canal Tolls and Charges Provisional Order (Caledonian and Crinan Canal) Bill;
  Canal Tolls and Charges Provisional Order (River Ouse, Beds and Hunts, &c.) Bill;
  be taken into consideration (the Chairman of Committees); agreed to The said Message considered accordingly. Then it was moved that a Committee of five Lords be appointed to join with the Committee of the House of Commons, as mentioned in the said Message; agreed to. The Lords following were named of the Committee:—
  Duke of Richmond and Gordon; Earl of Lauderdale; Lord Digby; Lord Rookwood; Lord Hawkesbury.
  Ordered,—That such Committee have power to agree with the Committee of the House of Commons in the appointment of a Chairman.
  Then a Message was ordered to be sent to the Commons to acquaint them therewith.

  STATUTE LAW REVISION AND CONSOLIDATION BILLS.
  Message from the Commons that they have committed the House Tax (Consolidation) Bill to the Joint Committee on Statute Law Revision, &c., Bills.
  JAPAN, No. 1 (1895.)
  Dispatch from Her Majesty's Minister at Tokio, forwarding copy of the Treaty of Peace concluded between China and Japan, 17th April 1895.
  ROYAL OBSERVATORY (EDINBURGH).
  Fifth Annual Report of the Astronomer Royal for Scotland, 1895.
  PRISONS (DEPARTMENTAL COMMITTEE).
  Minutes of Evidence taken by the Departmental Committee on Prisons; with appendices and index.
  EXPLOSIONS (TIMSBURY COLLIERY).
  Reports to the Secretary of State on the circumstances attending an explosion which occurred in the Timsbury Colliery on the 6th February 1895, by J. Roskill, Esq., barrister-at-law, and Joseph S. Martin, Esq., Her Majesty's Inspector of Mines.

  INDIA (ACCOUNTS AND ESTIMATES), 1895–96.
  Explanatory memorandum by the Secretary of State for India.
  Presented (by command), and ordered to lie on the Table.

  DISEASES OF ANIMALS ACT, 1894.
  Order of the Lords Justices in Council, dated 17th June 1895, relating to the landing of foreign animals in Ireland: Laid before the House (pursuant to Act), and ordered to lie on the Table.

  RESIGNATION OF MINISTERS.
  THE EARL OF ROSEBERY: My Lords, Before the House proceeds to the consideration of the business on the Paper—and that I trust will, in the circumstances, only be the non-contentious public business on the Paper—I desire to make a very brief statement, which the House no doubt will anticipate. After the vote in the House of Commons on Friday night, which was practically a Vote of Censure on the Secretary of State for War and on the Department over which he presides, on the question of National Defence, immediately after he had laid before the House, or adumbrated to the House, a great scheme of military reorganisation, the Government have felt it their duty to place their resignations in the hands of the Queen. Those resignations have been accepted, and the Government consequently only hold Office until their successors are appointed.
  THE EARL OF CRANBROOK,in the absence of the Marquess of Salisbury, said: I understand my noble Friend, Lord Salisbury, will wish the House to adjourn until to-morrow. In that case I presume that to-morrow only non-contentious business will be taken, but if there is any public business which the Government think ought to be proceeded with there will be no objection to that.
  THE EARL OF ROSEBERY: I take it that will be the course, in accordance with precedent. There is one important Bill which, I think, is non-contentious—the Behring Sea Fisheries Bill, which is coming up from the House of Commons, and may possibly go through all its stages there to-night.

  DIVORCE AMENDMENT BILL.
  This Bill stood on the Paper for Committee, but on the Order being called,
  VISCOUNT HALIFAXsaid, it could hardly be called a non-contentious Bill, and, therefore, he proposed to postpone it.

  INFANT LIFE PROTECTION BILL.
  On the Order for the Second Reading of this Bill being called,
  THE EARL OF ONSLOWsaid, that although he did not think the Bill was a contentious one, he thought it would be desirable in the circumstances that he should not move the Second Reading that night. The Bill was the same Bill as that introduced by the late Government when in power, and he trusted he would have an opportunity of moving the Second Reading under more favourable auspices.
  THE EARL OF ROSEBERY: I trust the noble Earl will have an opportunity of moving the Second Reading under more favourable auspices.

  COURT OF SESSION CONSIGNATIONS (SCOTLAND) BILL.
  House in Committee (according to Order); Bill reported without Amendment; Standing Committee negatived; and Bill to be read 3a to-morrow.
  POST OFFICE ACT (1891) AMENDMENT BILL.
  House in Committee (according to order); Bill reported without Amendment; Standing Committee negatived; and Bill to be read 3a to-morrow.
  MORTGAGEES' COSTS BILL.
  Read 3a (according to Order), with the Amendments, and passed, and returned to the Commons.
  EXTRADITION BILL [H.L.]
  Read 3a (according to Order); Amendments made; Bill passed; and sent to the Commons.

  BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE.
  THE EARL OF ROSEBERY: I move that the sitting of the House to-morrow do commence at a Quarter past Four.
  THE EARL OF CAMPERDOWN: On that Motion I wish to ask a question with reference to a Bill of considerable interest, and with regard to which your Lordships seem to be unaware of the course to be taken. I should like to ask whether the Deceased Wife's Sister Bill is to be taken to-morrow.
  THE DUKE OF ST. ALBANS: In the absence of my noble Friend, Lord Dunraven, it is impossible to give a direct answer, but it seems to me that this is not a contentious Bill, and a valuable discussion on the subject might take place. As regards the supporters of the Bill, we are perfectly prepared to go on with it if the House sits for business to-morrow.
  THE EARL OF ROSEBERY: I rather envy the reasoning faculty by which my noble Friend is able to arrive at the conclusion that the Bill in question is non-contentious. It has torn the House into two violent factions ever since I have had any experience of the House, and, speaking as I do for myself in rather hampered circumstances, I should certainly deprecate the Deceased Wife's Sister Bill being taken under the head of non-contentious business.
  THE DUKE OF ST. ALBANS: I used the expression purely in the party sense.
  THE EARL OF CRANBROOK: I believe that in all cases of a similar kind, when there is no Government actually working and sitting with the power of a Government, it is usual that Bills that are discussable should be suspended—at all events for a time.
  THE DUKE OF ST. ALBANS: In that case I will communicate with Lord Dunraven, and the Bill will not come on to-morrow.

  JUDICIAL COMMITTEE AMENDMENT BILL.
  On the Order for the Second Reading of this Bill,
  THE EARL OF ROSEBERYsaid: I am informed that, by the favour of the noble Lords opposite, I may take this Bill as an unopposed Bill.
  Bill read 2a.

  SEAL FISHERIES (NORTH PACIFIC) BILL.
  This Bill was brought up from the Commons.
  THE EARL OF KIMBERLEY,in moving that it be read a first time, said that, as it was extremely urgent that the Bill should pass into law, he should move the Second Reading tomorrow, and also give notice of his intention to move that the Standing Orders be suspended in order that it might pass through all its stages.
  House adjourned at a Quarter before Five o'clock, until To-morrow.