§ [SECOND READING.]
§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
§ THE EARL OF GRANARDMy Lords, this is a small Bill to amend the Colonial Naval Defence Act, 1865. Under that Act Colonial Legislatures were permitted to raise Volunteers belonging to the Royal Naval Reserve under the Royal Naval Reserve Act of 1859. It is now desired to give an alternative power to Colonial Legislatures to raise Volunteers who should form part of the Royal Fleet Reserve under the Naval Forces Act of 1903. This is effected by Clause 1 of the Bill. The Legislatures of the Cape and Natal have already passed Acts for this purpose, and Clause 1 of this Bill validates these Colonial enactments. The Act of 1865 enables Colonial Legislatures to make provision for providing vessels of war and maintaining seamen to man them and placing these at the disposal of the Admiralty; but the officers serving therein can only be employed on ships belonging to the Colony. This Bill is to remedy these defects, and I trust that your Lordships will give it a Second Reading.
§ Moved, That the Bill be now read 2a.—(The Earl of Granard.)
§ On Question, Bill read 2a, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Thursday next.