§ [Second Reading.]
§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (The Earl of Elgin)My Lords, I have not much to say in explanation of this Bill. It deals with payments from the Dominion Government of Canada to the Provinces of Canada, but it is necessary to have legislation in this country because these payments come in substitution for the payments which are provided for in the British North America Act, 1867. A conference was held at Ottawa between the Dominion Government and the Provincial Governments, and the pro visions of this Bill follow on an address from the Dominion Government which represented the findings of that conference. There is this urgency about the matter, that to meet the financial requirements of the provinces it was desired that the Bill should be enacted before 1st July. Owing to delays in another place that has not been possible, but I hope your Lordships will be disposed to give the Bill a Second Reading to-day, and allow it to take the other stages early next week. I beg to move.
§ Moved, "That the Bill be now read 2a"— (The Earl of Elgin.)
§ On Question, Bill read 2a, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House.