Lords Sitting of 19 February 1903

PRIVATE BILL BUSINESS.
Report by the CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES of the House of Lords and the CHAIRMAN OF WAYS AND MEANS in the House of Commons—
"That, having regard to Section 16 (2) of the Private Legislation Procedure (Scotland) Act, 1899, the provisions of the Fife Electric Power Company Order, and Part III. of the Hamilton, Mother-well, and Wishaw Tramways Order, are of such a character that they ought to be dealt with by Private Bills and not by Provisional Orders.
"That the provisions of the Life Association of Scotland Order and the Scottish American Mortgage Company, Limited, Order do not relate wholly to Scotland, and are of such a character that they ought to be dealt with by Private Bills and not by Provisional Orders.
"That the provisions of the Lanarkshire and Dumbartonshire Railway Order are of such a character that they ought to be dealt with by Private Bill and not by Provisional Order.
"That the provisions of Parts IV. and V. of the Glasgow Corporation (Police) Order raise such questions of policy and principle that they ought to be dealt with by Private Bill and not by Provisional Order."

RETURNS, REPORTS, ETC.

  FOREIGN JURISDICTION ACT, 1890.
  Order in Council of the 16th December, 1902, amending the "Barotziland North-Western Rhodesia Order in Council, 1899."
  Orders in Council of the 16th February, 1903, entitled "The Siam Order in Council, 1903," and the "Southern Rhodesia Order in Council, 1903."

  GOVERNMENT OF INDIA ACT, 1858.
  Order in Council of 16th December, 1902, approving a statement of proposed new and revised appointments and alteration of salaries in the establishment of the Secretary of State for India in Council.
  ALIEN IMMIGRATION.
  Return of the number of aliens that arrived from the Continent at Ports in the United Kingdom, in each month of the year 1903: Ordered to be laid before the House.—(The Lord Wolverton.)
  Order in Council of 16th February, 1903, applying the Colonial Probates Act, 1892, to the colony of the Transvaal.
  DOCKYARD PORTS REGULATION ACT, 1865
  Order in Council of 16th February, 1903, defining the Dockyard Port of Portland and making regulations with respect thereto.
  MERCHANT SHIPPING ACT, 1894
  Two Orders of Council of the 16th February, 1903, fixing the establishment of the Corporation of the Trinity House; Confirming byelaws made by the Pilotage Board for the Port of Newport (Mon.).
  ST. LUCIA
  Rule amending Rule No. 224 relating to the flogging of prisoners.
  GRENADA
  Rule applying the marks system to escaped and re-captured prisoners.
  DISEASES OF ANIMALS ACTS, 1894 AND 1896
  Five Orders, numbered 6,594, 6,608, 6,612, 6,615, and 6,616 respectively, relating to the landing of foreign animals in Great Britain.
  PUBLIC RECORDS (WAR OFFICE)
  Seventh Schedule containing a list and particulars of classes of documents existing or accruing in the office of His Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the War Department which are not considered of sufficient public value to justify their preservation in the Public Record Office.

  LIGHT RAILWAYS ACT, 1896
  Orders made by the Light Railway Commissioners, and modified and confirmed by the Board of Trade, authorising construction of light railway: in the Urban District of Whitley and Monks eaton, in the County of Northumberland

  259
  in the County of Gloucester, in the Borough of Cheltenham, and in the Urban District of Charlton Kings; in the County of Wilts, from Amesbury to Bulford; in the County of Cornwall, from Padstow to Trequrrain, in the parish of St. Mawgan; in the Municipal Borough of Poole and the Urban District of Branksome, in the County of Dorset; in the County of Essex, in the Urban Districts of Walthamstow, Leyton, and Chingford.

  LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (IRELAND) (GENERAL ORDERS)
  Two General Orders, dated 13th May, and 17th December, 1902.
  LOCOMOTIVES ON HIGHWAYS ACT, 1896
  Amended general regulations made by the Local Government Board for Ireland, dated 9th February, 1903.
  MILITIA ACT, 1882 (DEPUTY LIEUTENANTS)
  Returns of descriptions of qualifications of deputy lieutenants lodged during 1902 as furnished to the Chief Secretary for Ireland.

  NATIONAL DEBT (MILITARY SAVINGS BANKS)
  Account of the gross amount of all moneys received and paid by the Commissioners for the Reduction of the National Debt on account of the Fund for Military Savings Banks, from 19th September 1845 to 5th January 1903.
  Laid before the House (pursuant to Act), and ordered to lie on the Table.

  SHOPS (HOURS OF CLOSING) BILL [H.L.]
  A Bill to empower local authorities to fix the hours of closing of shops was presented by the Lord Ribblesdale; read 1a; and to be printed. (No. 1.)

  THE PREVENTION OF CORRUPTION
  EARL GREY: My Lords, I desire to take this, the earliest opportunity open to me, to ask the Lord Chancellor whether it is the intention of His Majesty's Government to re-introduce, at an early date, with the view of its becoming law before the end of the current session, the Prevention of Corruption Bill, the principle of which has
  260
  already been affirmed in this House, and which aims at making the acceptance, or the offer, of a secret commission a criminal offence. I would further like to express a hope that the noble and learned Lord may see his way to give an assurance to the House that he will not only introduce the measure at an early date, but use his great influence to secure its passage during the current session. Last year I had the honour to serve on a departmental Committee of the War Office on canteen contracts; and the evidence taken in the course of that inquiry disclosed a state of things so grave that I hold it would be a scandal if any delay were allowed to occur before this House took the necessary action to make this form of corruption a criminal offence. I am convinced that the practice of accepting and offering secret commissions is nothing short of a canker attacking the vitals of our commerce. I hold it to be the duty of this House to take such prompt and vigorous action as will rally behind it public opinion of a strong enough character to enable us to force this Bill through the other House of Parliament, notwithstanding the apathy and hostility it may have to encounter there. I cannot believe that a Bill on the subject will meet with any opposition in the other House. I have been requested by the great body of co-operators who, as your Lordships are aware, number 7,000,000 of the population, to ask the noble and learned Earl what are the intentions of the Government with respect to this subject, and to express a hope that the Government will in the interest of honest trading endeavour to secure the passage of a Bill through Parliament.
  LORD ALVERSTONE: My Lords, before the noble and learned Lord on the woolsack answers the question that has been put on him, I wish to join in the noble Earl's appeal. Your Lordships will remember that two years ago I myself introduced a Bill of a somewhat ambitious character, which was identically the same as the Bill introduced by the late Lord Chief Justice, Lord Russell of Killowen. When I withdrew that Bill the noble and learned Earl was good enough to introduce a Bill dealing with the matter from a less ambitious point of view,

  261
  but grappling with the main difficulties. I believe that Bill passed your Lordships' House, though it was not possible, owing to the pressure of public business, to pass it through the other House. Since then I have received, and am constantly receiving, appeals of the same kind as those received by the noble Earl opposite. A mass of material was collected by the late Lord Chief Justice, which goes on gathering in amount from month to month, and I am satisfied that the language used by the noble Earl as to the extent of the evil is in no way exaggerated. I should like to join in the appeal to the noble and learned Earl on the Woolsack to do his utmost to pass, at any rate, a measure which will lay down the principle we contend for and make the way more easy for further legislation.
  THE LORD CHANCELLOR (The Earl of HALSBURY): My Lords, I do not conceal from myself that what has been said by both noble Lords on this matter is well worthy of attention. I have myself received since last year ample proof of the extraordinary development of the system of corruption by what are delicately called commissions, but which are, in truth, bribes to people to betray their duties to their employers. But whether the facts collected and published have not to some extent increased it I do not say; I cannot help thinking, however, that a great many people have learned from them, for the first time, how easy it is by pressure on others to insist on commissions. The fact undoubtedly is that the system has grown extensively, and I quite agree that it demands the attention claimed for it. As far as I am concerned, I am happy to say that I hold in my hand a Bill which, as soon as the other business of the House is disposed of, I propose to ask your Lordships to read a first time. At all events, your Lordships will, at an early period of the session, have an opportunity of discussing and passing the measure in this House. At the same time I cannot forbear from giving this warning, that a Bill which is not considered of what I might call first-rate political importance to either side is not treated with that attention which Bills of a more ambitious character, and appealing more to the spirit of Party Politics, are likely to receive. In the congested state of
  262
  the House of Commons business, there is no doubt that, there is great difficulty in getting on with a Bill of a character that is neutral, although it is most important socially. I will do my best to push the Bill through the House, and will do what I can to advance the prospect of its becoming law, because nobody feels more strongly than I do the enormous importance of this question.

  PREVENTION OF CORRUPTION BILL [H.L.]
  A Bill for the better prevention of corruption was presented by the Lord Chancellor; read 1a; and to be printed. (No. 2.)

  ALIEN IMMIGRATION
  Return (in part) respecting: Laid before the House (pursuant to Order of this day), and to be printed. (No. 3.)
  House adjourned at ten minutes before Five o'clock, till Tomorrow, a quarter past Four o'clock.