§ THE LORD PRIVY SEAL AND SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (THE MARQUESS OF CREWE): My Lords, I beg to make the Motion which stands in my name.
§ Moved, That Standing Order No. XXXIX be considered in order to its being suspended for this day's sitting.— (The Marquess of Crewe.)
LORD BALFOUR OF BURLEIGHMy Lords, before this Mot ion is agreed to, if it is to be applied to the Coal Mines (Minimum Wage) Bill, I think we ought to have some justification for what is a very unusual course. I believe the Bill is to be amended and we have not yet seen the Amendments. I do not know whether there is any precedent for in that case passing a Bill through all its stages. I am the last person to object if a real case of urgency can be made out, but I hope the noble Marquess, before he proceeds to act upon this Motion, will pay the House the compliment of making a real case for urgency in the circumstances in which we are placed.
THE MARQUESS OF CREWEMy Lords it seemed to me that it would be more convenient if, assuming it to be the desire or the willingness of the House to take the Coal Mines Bill through all its stages in one sitting, your Lordships would agree to do so in consideration of the case put before you in moving the Second Reading, and I think it would be preferable to allow that explanation to be taken on the Second Reading itself. Therefore if the House will be good enough to accept the Motion I am now making, which would make that course possible, it will, of course, do so without prejudice to the action it may please to take later.
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.