JUSTICES OF THE PEACE (QUALIFICATION OF WOMEN) BILL. [H.L.] (Hansard, 3 June 1919)

§ EARL BEAUCHAMP
My Lords, I beg to move that this Bill be read a third time.

§ VISCOUNT MIDLETON
My Lords, I appeal to the noble Earl not to press his Motion in the present state of the House. A number of Peers have left the House in the full conviction that no other business would be taken, and the noble Earl must see that a Bill involving very acute controversy cannot properly be dealt with in the present state of these benches. There is an Amendment to be proposed dealing with the question of age, and the point is felt in some quarters to involve a disturbance of the compromise which was arrived at as to the terms on which the franchise should be given, because it is felt that the eligibility of women for the franchise would certainly be affected by any decision as to their eligibility to act as justices of the peace. I therefore appeal to the noble Earl not to press his Motion at this moment. I am sure he will remember that there had been some question as regards the business of the House to-day, and that doubt was 1033 felt in many quarters as to whether or not the most rev. Primate would defer his speech. That doubt has been resolved. But a number of Peers who were here an hour or two ago were quite unprepared, and no effort was made to retain their attendance, because it was not anticipated that this Bill would be pressed to-night.

§ EARL BEAUCHAMP
My Lords, I think the noble Viscount is hardly treating this Bill with his usual fairness. Here is the case of an Amendment to be moved on Third Reading, and there is no reason why it should not have been made on the Committee Stage. It would have been more in accordance with the custom of your Lordships' House to move it in the usual way when the Bill was in Committee. However, it was only proposed at the last moment without notice being given, a course of action so unusual that the noble Lord who himself proposed it felt obliged to withdraw it in order to bring it forward on the Third Reading. I had hoped that this Bill would have secured a Third Reading in the course of last week. It was put off to suit the convenience of noble Lords. Now we are asked to postpone it still further until after the Whitsuntide recess. The Whitsuntide recess is to be a long one. I am obliged, in view of the state of the House, to agree to the Motion, but I feel bound to tell the noble Viscount that he is hardly dealing fairly with the Bill, and that it would have been more in accordance with the custom of the House had the Amendment been moved on the Committee stage.

§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY
My Lords, I feel that my noble friend below the gangway (Earl Beauchamp) has some reason to complain. But here is a case in which there really is no choice. I pronounce no opinion. It would not be in order, nor do I desire to do so. I merely wish to say that it would be quite impossible for us to discuss adequately the Amendment in the present state of the House. My noble friend said that the noble Lord ought to have moved his Amendment at a previous stage of the Bill. I do not think he can say that. It is open to any member of your Lordships' House to take advantage of the ordinary openings which are afforded by the very liberal rules that prevail in this House, and you cannot say that a noble Lord has behaved badly if he closes the Third Reading rather than any other stage for his purpose. If do not see that 1034 there is any course open other than to adjourn the Bill, because the moment the debate is over and we divide we should find that there was not a quorum.