§ [SECOND READING.]
§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
VISCOUNT GALWAYMy Lords, in asking your Lordships to read this Bill a second time I feel somewhat in the position of bringing before you a hardy annual, because your Lordships have passed the Bill through this House in two previous sessions, but unfortunately owing to pressure of business in another place the Bill got no further. This is practically the same Bill as the one which I brought in last year, with two exceptions, which I have made to meet the wishes of His Majesty's Government. Last year Scotland was included in the Bill but this year it is not, the Scottish Office having represented that they have sufficient powers already. The second alteration is that, at the request of the Irish Office, I have added to the Bill a clause making it applicable to Ireland. The Bill, the object of which is to enable county councils to acquire existing ferries by agreement, meets a long felt want, and has the approbation of the County Councils Association. Your Lordships passed it through all its stages in two previous sessions, and as it is said that there is luck in the third time I hope that this session the Bill will meet with an easy passage through your Lordships' House and the other House and become law.
§ Moved, That the 13111 be now read 2a.—(Viscount Galway.)
§ On Question, Bill read 2a, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House To-morrow.