Lords Sitting of 18 June 1901

EARL OF GOSFORD.
Report made from the LORD CHANCELLOR, that the right of Archibald Brabazon Sparrow Acheson, Earl of Gosford, to vote at the elections of Representative Peers for Ireland has been established to the satisfaction of the Lord Chancellor; read, and ordered to lie on the Table.
The Lord Zouche of Haryngworth took the Oath.
The Lord Shute (Viscount Barrington) sat first in Parliament after the death of his father.

PRIVATE BILL BUSINESS.
The LORD CHANCELLOR acquainted the House that the Clerk of the Parliaments had laid upon the Table the Certificates from the Examiners that the further Standing Orders applicable to the following Bills have been complied with:—

South Metropolitan Gas;

London and India Docks (New Works).

And also the Certificate that the further Standing Orders applicable to the following Bill have not been complied with:—
Cromer Water.
The same were ordered to lie on the Table.

STANDING ORDERS COMMITTEE.
Report from, That the Standing Orders not complied with in respect of the Dorking Gas Bill ought to be dispensed with, and the Bill allowed to proceed.
Read, and agreed to.

STRATTON AND BUDE IMPROVEMENT BILL [H.L.]
The King's consent, and the consent of His Royal Highness the Duke of Cornwall, in right of his Duchy of Corn-
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wall, signified, and Bill reported with Amendments.

SALFORD CORPORATION BILL [H.L.]
Reported from the Select Committee with Amendments.
STOCKPORT CORPORATION WATER BILL [H.L.]
Reported from the Select Committee with Amendments.
GREAT EASTERN RAILWAY BILL.
Report from the Select Committee, That the Committee had not proceeded with the consideration of the Bill, the Committee having found that the petitioners had no locus standi before them; read, and ordered to lie on the Table. The Orders made on the 9th and 20th of May last discharged; and Bill committed.
SHANNON WATER AND ELECTRIC POWER BILL.
  KINGSTON-UPON-HULL CORPORATION BILL.
  Read 2a, and committed: The Committees to be proposed by the Committee of Selection.
  TORRINGTON AND OKEHAMPTON RAILWAY BILL.
  Read 2a, and committed.
NEATH HARBOUR BILL.
  THAMES DEEP WATER DOCK BILL
  Read 3a, and passed.
CALEDONIAN RAILWAY BILL.

  LLANDRINDOD WELLS URBAN DISTRICT WATER BILL.
  LANCASHIRE AND YORKSHIRE RAILWAY (VARIOUS POWERS) BILL.
  LANCASHIRE AND YORKSHIRE RAILWAY (DEARNE VALLEY JUNCTION RAILWAYS) BILL.
  ALDERSHOT GAS AND WATER BILL
  LONDON RIVERSIDE FISH MARKET BILL.
  CLEVELAND AND DURHAM COUNTY ELECTRIC POWER BILL.
  DERBYSHIRE AND NOTTINGHAMSHIRE ELECTRIC POWER BILL.
  Report from the Committee of Selection, That the following Lords be pro-

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  posed to the House to form the Select Committee for the consideration of the said Bills, viz.:—

  E. Shaftesbury,

  L. Manners,

  L. Abinger,

  L. Brougham and Vaux (chairman),

  L. Monck (V. Monck);

  agreed to; and the said Lords appointed accordingly; the Committee to meet on Tuesday next at eleven o'clock; and all petitions referred to the Committee, with leave to the petitioners praying to be heard by counsel against the Bills to be heard as desired, as also counsel for the Bills.

ECCLES CORPORATION BILL.
  METROPOLITAN ELECTRIC SUPPLY BILL.
  Brought from the Commons; read 1a; and referred to the Examiners.

  LONDON (CITY) SCHOOL FOR ORPHANS OF FREEMEN BILL [H.L.]
  OTLEY GAS BILL [H.L.].
  Returned from the Commons agreed to.

ELECTRIC LIGHTING PROVISIONAL ORDERS (No. 8) BILL [H.L.]

  ELECTRIC LIGHTING PROVISIONAL ORDERS (No. 9) BILL [H.L.]
  ELECTRIC LIGHTING PROVISIONAL ORDERS (No. 11) BILL [H.L.].
  ELECTRIC LIGHTING PROVISIONAL ORDERS (No. 12) BILL [H.L.].
  Committed to a Committee of the Whole House.

TRAMWAYS ORDERS CONFIRMATION (No. 1) BILL [H.L.]

  TRAMWAYS ORDERS CONFIRMATION (No. 3) BILL [H.L.]
  TRAMWAYS ORDERS CONFIRMATION (No. 4) BILL [H.L.].
  Committed; the Committees to be proposed by the Committee of Selection.

  WATER ORDERS CONFIRMATION (No. 2) BILL [H.L.]
  Committed to a Committee of the Whole House.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROVISIONAL ORDERS (No. 1) BILL.

  LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROVISIONAL ORDERS (No. 2) BILL.
  LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROVISIONAL ORDERS (POOR LAW) BILL.
  LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROVISIONAL ORDERS (No. 3) BILL.
  Read 2a (according to Order), and committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Friday next.

  LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROVISIONAL ORDER (GAS) BILL.
  Read 2a (according to Order), and committed to a Committee of the Whole House.
  METROPOLITAN COMMON SCHEME (HAM) PROVISIONAL ORDER BILL.
  Read 3a (according to Order), and passed.
  LOCAL GOVERNMENT (IRELAND) PROVISIONAL ORDER (No. 1) BILL.
  House in Committee (according to Order); Bill reported without amendment; Standing Committee negatived; and Bill to be read 3a on Monday next.
DRAINAGE AND IMPROVEMENT OF LANDS (IRELAND) PROVISIONAL ORDER BILL.
  LOCAL GOVERNMENT (IRELAND) PROVISIONAL ORDERS (No. 2) BILL.
  Read 2a (according to Order), and committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Monday next.

  ELECTRIC LIGHTING PROVISIONAL ORDERS (No. 2) BILL.
  ELECTRIC LIGHTING PROVISIONAL ORDERS (No. 3) BILL.
  ELECTRIC LIGHTING PROVISIONAL ORDERS (No. 4) BILL.
  ELECTRIC LIGHTING PROVISIONAL ORDERS (No. 5) BILL.
  Read 2a (according to Order), and committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Friday next.

  LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROVISIONAL ORDERS (HOUSING OF WORKING CLASSES) BILL. (No. 117.)
  LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROVISIONAL, ORDERS (No. 6) BILL. (No. 118.)
  PIER AND HARBOUR PROVISIONAL ORDERS (No. 1) BILL. (No. 119.)
  Brought from the Commons; read 1a; to be printed; and referred to the Examiners.

RETURNS, REPORTS, ETC.
  TRADE REPORTS (ANNUAL SERIES).
  No. 2631. Trade of Persian Gulf; Presented (by command), and ordered to lie on the Table.

  BOARD OF EDUCATION.
  Draft Order in Council for transferring to the Board of Education the powers of the Charity Commissioners to frame and establish schemes for educational endowments in England and Wales.
  Laid before the House (pursuant to Act), and ordered to lie on the Table.

PETITIONS.
  CORONATION OATH AND DECLARATION OF THE SOVEREIGN AGAINST TRANSUBSTANTIATION.
  Petition against alteration of; of inhabitants of Bath; read, and ordered to lie on the Table.
  LONDON BOROUGH COUNCILS (WOMEN'S DISABILITIES REMOVAL) BILL. [H.L.]
  Petition in favour of; of Corporation of St. Pancras; read, and ordered to lie on the Table.
  QUEEN ANNE'S BOUNTY BOARD.
  Message from the Commons that they have ordered that the Committee appointed by them to join with the Committee of this House to consider the constitution of Queen Anne's Bounty Board do meet the Lords' Committee in Committee Room A on Thursday next, at half-past Two o'clock, as proposed by their Lordships.

  PURCHASE OF LAND (IRELAND) BILL.
  [SECOND READING.]
  Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
  THE EARL OF DENBIGH: My Lords, this Bill, which was treated as entirely non-controversial in another place, is a very short one, and has been introduced for the purpose of preventing what would practically be the cessation of
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  land purchase under the existing system. The purpose of the Bill is to amend Sub-section 1 of Section 9 of the Land Purchase Act, 1891, which provides that advances for the purchase of holdings in any county shall not exceed a sum equal to twenty-five times the guarantee fund of the county. It was pointed out in the other House that in the county of Wexford loans had been issued up to £737,000, whereas the credit of Wexford was calculated to be £742,000, leaving a margin of only £5,000. Therefore in the county of Wexford land purchase would be practically at a standstill unless there was some extension of the Land Act of 1891. This Bill gives discretionary power to increase the advances in any one county when the Lord Lieutenant recommends such an extension, or when the Treasury is of opinion that a further advance can be made without loss. Discretion is also given to the Lord Lieutenant and the Treasury in respect of advances to the Congested Districts Board under Section 43 of the Land Act, 1896. This section is indispensable to the voluntary purchase of land by the Congested Districts Board.
  Moved, That the Bill be now read 2a.—(The Earl of Denbigh.)
  On Question, agreed to.
  Bill read 2a accordingly, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Monday next.

  COUNTY COURTS (IRELAND) BILL [H.L.]
  Read 3a (according to Order); an Amendment made; Bill passed, and sent to the Commons.
  DEMISE OF THE CROWN BILL.
  House in Committee (according to Order); Bill reported without amendment; and re-committed to the Standing Committee.
  ISOLATION HOSPITALS BILL.
  Brought from the Commons; read 1a; and to be printed. [No. 115.]

  BOARD OF TRADE NAUTICAL STAFF.
  LORD MUSKERRY: My Lords, I beg to move the motion standing in my name.
  Moved, For a Return of the nautical advisers, consultative staff, and marine surveying staff to the Board of Trade, with particulars as to age, the length of service at sea (if any), date of leaving the sea, in what capacities served, and any other of the practical qualifications held by such of those holding appointments under the headings herein-before referred to.—(The Lord Mus-kerry.)
  THE EARL OF DUDLEY: The Government has no objection to the granting of the Return asked for, and I will lay it on the Table as soon as we can get the information.
  On Question, agreed to.
  Return ordered to be laid before the House.

  MERCHANT SHIPPING—SEAMEN'S FOOD AND ACCOMMODATION.
  LORD MUSKERRY: My Lords, I beg to ask His Majesty's Government whether they are aware of the statement which appeared in The Times of the 13th of November last, stating that it was understood that the late President of the Board of Trade had under consideration and contemplated the appointment of a Committee to inquire into the food and accommodation provided for seamen on merchant ships; whether this statement was correct; and whether, in view of the necessity for such an inquiry, both as regards officers and seamen, the President of the Board of Trade will consider the appointment of a Committee at the earliest possible time. I was very pleased to hear that part of the speech of the noble Earl (the Earl of Dudley) yesterday, in which he suggested offering inducements to seamen to enter the service by improving their condition. I believe that on board the great liners—the Cunard, the P. and O., and other liners like them—the food is all that could be desired, and the accommodation is very good; but, unfortunately, in some other vessels the food is very bad, and the accommodation, both for officers and men, is not fit for dogs. The following is an extract from a letter written by a master—
  "I think our owners want waking up in this matter. They think only about carrying
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  capacity when building a ship, and when nearly finished the question arises where to put the officers. I think your eyes would be opened if you saw some of our ships officers' accommodation."
  I have seen some of the accommodation, and it is certainly a disgrace to the country that people should be allowed to be put in such places. There is another matter that requires consideration. Even good food can be spoilt by bad cooking, and I would suggest to the Board of Trade that they should adopt some means to ensure that the men who ship as cooks are really capable of carrying out their duties.
  THE EARL OF DUDLEY: I believe this matter was under consideration at the time Mr. Ritchie left the Board of Trade, but I am not aware that any conclusion had been arrived at. My right hon. friend the present President is of opinion that there is not sufficient ground for a limited inquiry such as is suggested in the question, inasmuch as the facts are already fairly well known. He is, however, considering the advisability of an inquiry of a more general character into questions affecting the interests of the mercantile marine as a whole; but I am not at present in a position to make a more definite statement on the subject.
  House adjourned at a quarter before Five of the clock, to Thursday next, half-past Ten of the clock.