LORD BALFOUR,in moving the Second Reading of this Bill, said, he believed there would be no opposition to it. The Bill passed in another place without objection. Anyone who knew the municipal life of Scotland would be aware that, as at present constituted, the Convention of Royal and Parliamentary Burghs, including, as it did, only Royal and Parliamentary Burghs, was not fully representative of the municipal life of Scotland. The object of the Bill, to which he asked their Lordships to give a Second Reading, was to make it possible for the police burghs to join the Convention if they desired to do so. There was nothing compulsory in the measure. It was permissive, and therefore only affected the police burghs which desired to join. Those that did not desire to join could remain outside as at present.
§ Bill read 2a.