§ PIER AND HARBOUR PROVISIONAL ORDERS (No. 2) BILL.
§ THE SECRETARY FOR SCOTLAND (Lord BALFOUR of BURLEIGH)My Lords, I ask the House to suspend the Standing Orders in regard to these Bills, and allow them to be read a second time, under these circumstances. The Bills confirming these Orders were all introduced into the House of Commons within a reasonable time, and at such a time that they might naturally have been expected to pass both Houses. Owing to the unexpected length of the Whitsuntide recess, the time for petitioning against these Orders in the House of Commons was extended to June 14th, the first day on which the House sat after the recess. One or two of these Orders were petitioned against, and the Committee to consider those petitions did not meet till the 26th June. Under all these circumstances, and as there has been no delay on the part of the promoters for which they can be in any way held responsible, I hope the House will allow the Sessional Order to be suspended in the case of these four Bills, and I believe that I have the concurrence of the noble Earl the Chairman of Committees in that course being taken.
§ Moved, That the Order of the 12th March last, "That no Provisional Order Confirmation Bill brought from the House of Commons shall be read a second time after Tuesday, the 26th day of June next," be dispensed with, and that the Bills be now read 2a; agreed to; and Bills read 2a accordingly.