§ Brought from the Commons.
THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES (LORD LUCAS)My Lords, I ask your Lordships to pass through all its stages, under the procedure which the House has allowed to be adopted in regard to Bills of great emergency, a Bill to enable food, forage, and military stores for His Majesty's Forces to be requisitioned in cases of emergency. The proposal contained in the Bill is that food, forage, and military stores and materials shall be placed on the same footing as horses, carriages, and vessels are on at the present time. The War Office are extremely anxious to have this Bill passed, if possible, to-night, because they are being met with formidable difficulties in obtaining stores. A great many cases have occurred where they are being charged excessive prices, and if it is permitted to continue I understand from the War Office authorities that it is going to cause p6ssibly a certain delay in the mobilisation which is taking place at the present moment. I therefore ask your Lordships to allow the Bill to pass through all its stages to-day.
§ Moved, That the Bill be now read 1ª.—(Lord Lucas.)
§ On Question, Bill read 1ª, and to be printed.
§ Then (Standing Order No. XXXIX having been suspended) Bill read 2ª: Committee negatived: Bill read 3ª and passed. (No. 251.)