§ [SECOND READING.]
§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
§ THE FIRST COMMISSIONER OF WORKS (EARL BEAUCHAMP)My Lords, there are three reasons why I should not detain your Lordships at any length in asking you to give a Second Reading to this Bill. The first is the state of the Benches, the second is the hour of the evening, and the third and most important reason of all is the fact that the Bill has already in principle received the approval of your Lordships' House in a previous session. It is quite possible that when we come to consider the Bill in detail Amendments may be desired. I shall be very glad to consider those Amendments when we reach the Committee stage; and subject to the passing of any Amendments that may be necessary I venture to hope that this Bill will have a speedy passage through both Houses of Parliament.
§ Moved, That the Bill be now read 2a.—(Earl Beauchamp.)
677§ THE MARQUESS OF LANSDOWNEMy Lords, when this Bill came before us last year I gave it my support and stated the reasons for which I did so. I do not feel called upon on the present occasion to repeat what I then said. But the noble Earl will remember that when the Bill was last before us many of us took great exception to some of the provisions which it contained and indicated very plainly that we would have to press Amendments in Committee. I think the same observation holds good now. There are a number of points which it seems to me may well be considered by your Lordships in detail, but criticism upon those points is obviously better reserved until a later stage is reached.
§ On Question, Bill read 2a, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Tuesday next.