HL Deb 14 August 1919 vol 36 cc880-2

Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.

THE LORD CHANCELLOR

My Lords, I observe that there are two Motions on the Paper—one standing in the name of Lord Balfour of Burleigh, and the other in the name of Lord Southwark. Lord Balfour of Burleigh has given notice, in the event of the Bill being read a second time, to move "That the further stages be postponed until after the recess" and Lord Southwark's Motion is to move, on the Second Reading "That the debate be adjourned until after the recess." I have two Bills down upon the Paper to-day for Second Reading. One is the Patents and Designs Bill, with which I am now dealing and the second is the Trade Marks Bill. I understand, from representations which have been made to me, that as both of these Bills deal with matters of some little complication, it is felt that it is rather a late period of the session to ask your Lordships to give attention to them and pass them through all their stages. The Departments concerned attach great importance to both these Bills, and they would welcome the result very much if your Lordships had thought it proper to carry all the stages of Both Bills before we adjourn. At the same time I can quite see that the view may be pressed very persuasively that, it is too much to ask that both these Bills should be taken at this stage and, on reflection, I have decided, if it meets with the concurrence of the House, not to ask for the Second Reading of the Trade Marks Bill before we adjourn. I hope, however, I may be able to satisfy your Lordships that there are reasons why that course should not be adopted in the case of the Patents and Designs Bill, though if there is a strong feeling against that course I should not hold myself justified in attempting to resist it. However, I hope I shall be able to satisfy the House that there are strong reasons against postponing the Patents and Designs Bill.

THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY

May I interrupt the noble and learned Lord for a moment? I only do so in order to save the time of the House. If the noble and learned Lord deals with the Patents and Designs Bill in detail it will take some time, and if after that the House thought it should be postponed it would be rather unnecessary to trouble the noble and learned Lord to that extent on the present occasion. I venture to interrupt him to say that there is a strong feeling amongst many members of the House for postponing both of these Bills.

Several NOBLE LORDS

Hear, hear.

TEE LORD CHANCELLOR

I am much obliged to the noble Marquess, and I gather from the customary indications that there are others who take the same view. I was, of course, adding to my labours by making myself acquainted with the highly technical details of these Bills in order to explain them to your Lordships. I was ready to do so, but I am not prepared to ask your Lordships to take the Second Reading of these Bills now.

THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY

I think we ought to say how grateful we are for the courteous winner in which the noble and learned Lord has met us on this occasion, and for the courtesy which he always extends to us.

THE LORD CHANCELLOR

I shall ask your Lordships to give a Second Reading to both these Bills when we meet again after the Recess.

Second Reading adjourned accordingly.