Lords Sitting of 25 March 1912

CONGESTED DISTRICTS BOARD AND MR. FITZGIBBON, M.P.
His Majesty's answer to the Address of the 13th of March last, delivered by the Lord Steward (E. Chesterfield), and read as follows:—
I have received your Address praying for the removal of Mr. John Fitzgibbon, M.P., from his office as one of the members of the Congested Districts Board, and I have given full consideration to the grounds for removal set forth therein. I am informed that Mr. Fitzgibbon has expressed regret for the conduct complained of and has promised whilst he remains a member of the Board to abstain from any repetition of it.
The whole subject will continue to receive watchful attention."

PRICES PATENT CANDLE COMPANY BILL. [H.L.]
Report from the Select Committee, That the Committee had not proceeded with the consideration of the Bill, the opposition thereto having been withdrawn; read, and ordered to lie on the Table; The orders made on the 4th instant discharged, and Bill committed.
SIDMOUTH URBAN DISTRICT COUNCIL BILL. [H.L.]
  TENDRING HUNDRED WATER AND GAS BILL. [H.L.]

    PENWORTHAM BRIDGE BILL. [H.L.]
    LEATHERHEAD GAS BILL. [H.L.]
    Read 3a, and passed, and sent to the Commons.

METROPOLITAN POLICE PROVISIONAL ORDER BILL.
Brought from the Commons; read 1a; to be printed; and referred to the Examiners. (No. 21.)

LONDON MUSEUM.
LORD ROTHERHAM: My Lords, I should like to ask the First Commissioner of Works whether arrangements can be made to allow members of this House to inspect the London Museum.
THE FIRST COMMISSIONER OF WORKS (EARL BEAUCHAMP): The trustees of the London Museum have arranged for a private view for members of both Houses of Parliament on Wednesday between 11 a.m. and 4.30 p.m. Tickets of admission can be obtained from the Lord Chancellor's secretary, and can be made to include the wife of a Peer, or one daughter of a Peer, if that is mentioned in the application.

BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE.
THE EARL OF SELBORNE: My Lords, I should like to ask the noble Marquess who leads the House whether he can give us any indication of when he expects to be able to move the Second Reading of the Coal Mines (Minimum Wage) Bill in this House.
THE LORD PRIVY SEAL AND SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (THE MARQUESS OF CREWE): My Lords, I am afraid I cannot give a very explicit answer to the noble Earl's Question. I understand that it is quite certain that no attempt will be made in the House of Commons to proceed with the Report stage of the Bill to-day, and whether or not it will be taken to-morrow it is not-possible to say at this moment. It is evident, therefore, that in no case could we take the Bill here before Wednesday, but as to whether it will be possible to take it in this House on that day I cannot give a definite answer now. Perhaps the noble Earl will repeat his Question to-morrow.
THE EARL OF SELBORNE: I do not wish to press the noble Marquess beyond what is reasonable, but I rather gather from what he said that, supposing the House of Commons were to dispose of the Bill to-morrow, he would ask us to read it a second time on Wednesday.
THE MARQUESS OF CREWE: Everything depends on the progress made in another place, but as far as I am able to judge we may very probably be in a position to ask your Lordships to take the Bill on Wednesday.

METROPOLITAN POLICE RATE BILL.
THE PAYMASTER-GENERAL (LORD ASHBY ST. LEDGERS): I hope your Lordships will consent to postpone the Committee stage of this Bill until to-morrow. I understand that that would meet the convenience of noble Lords opposite who would like time to consider the Amendments standing in the name of Lord Monk Bretton.
Committee of the Whole House (which stands appointed for this day) put off accordingly till To-morrow.

MARRIAGES IN JAPAN (VALIDITY) BILL. [H.L.]
[SECOND READING.]
Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
THE LORD CHANCELLOR (EARL LOREBURN): My Lords, this is a Bill which requires a very short preface indeed. Its object is to remove doubts as to the validity of certain marriages solemnised in the Empire of Japan, one or both of the parties being British subjects. Before July 16, 1899, certain conditions regulated marriages in Japan, and marriages continued after that date to be celebrated in accordance with the old rules, but the effect of surrendering the extra-territorial jurisdiction was to imperil the validity of such marriages. Accordingly, it is only fair that marriages solemnised in good faith and in reliance on the continuance of the law should be made valid, subject to certain conditions—namely, that the Bill shall not render valid any marriage which before the passing of the Bill had been declared invalid by any Court of competent jurisdiction, or affect any right dependent on the validity or invalidity thereof, or render valid any marriage either of the parties to which has subsequently during the life of the other lawfully intermarried with any other person.
Moved, That the Bill be now read 2a.—(Earl Loreburn.)
On Question, Bill read 2a, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House To-morrow.
House adjourned at twenty-five minutes before Five o'clock, till To-morrow, half-past Ten o'clock.