Lords Sitting of 6 July 1920

Preamble
The House met at a quarter past four of the clock, The LORD CHANCELLOR on the Woolsack.

LONDON COUNTY COUNCIL (MONEY) BILL.
THE CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES (THE EARL OF DONOUGHMORE): My Lords, there are adequate public reasons for the course which is proposed in regard to this Bill.
Moved, That the Order made on the 29th day of April last, "That no Private Bill brought from the House of Commons shall he read a second time after Thursday, the 17th day of June next," be dispensed with in respect of this Bill; and that the Bill be now read. 2a.—(The Chairman of Committees.)
On Question, Motion agreed to, and Bill read 2a.

LIVERPOOL CORPORATION WATER WORKS BILL.
Read 3a, with the Amendments, and passed and returned to the Commons.

THE LORD CHANCELLOR AND SPA CONFERENCE.
THE LORD CHANCELLOR (LORD BIRKENHEAD): My Lords, I have to announce that I have received a communi-
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cation from the Prime Minister intimating to me that, if it be possible, he desires my presence at Spa in order to offer legal advice upon various matters which have arisen. It will be necessary for me to leave the House after the Debate to-morrow, but it will not, I think, be necessary for me to miss more than one sitting of your Lordships' House, on Thursday, unless it should be found necessary (which I do not anticipate) to sit on Monday. It would not, of course, be right that I should absent myself from my duties without obtaining your Lordships' leave, and I, therefore, respectfully ask whether it be your Lordships' wish that such leave be given.
THE MARQUESS OF CREWE: My Lords, the announcement which the noble and learned Lord on the Woolsack has made will, of course, be received with regret by your Lordships. We all feel that it is a misfortune when the noble and learned Lord is not able to take charge of our proceedings from the Woolsack. It is also, we feel, a matter of regret that His Majesty's Government have to depend upon the noble and learned Lord for legal assistance on these important international occasions; but, at the same time, we recognise the compliment that is paid both to the noble and learned Lord and to this House, by the obvious fact that his presence there is indispensable, and that no other member of His Majesty's Government can take his place. Times have changed, probably for the better, since the time when it was considered an almost incredible thing that

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the Lord Chancellor should ever quit the bounds of the Kingdom. Your Lordships will all agree that a close adherence to that ancient practice might have led in recent days on several occasions to extreme public inconvenience. In the circumstances, therefore, I feel certain that the House will be disposed to be grateful to the Lord Chancellor for his courtesy in informing us thus early, and certainly will not desire to place any obstacle in the way of his fulfilling this important international and public duty.
THE LORD CHANCELLOR: My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Marquess for what he has said. In order completely to avoid any misunderstanding I might mention now that I shall be accompanied by my right hon. and learned friend the Attorney-General.

MINISTRY OF HEALTH PROVISIONAL ORDER (NEW WINDSOR EXTENSION) BILL. [H.L.]
  MINISTRY OF HEALTH PROVISIONAL ORDER (CHESTERFIELD EXTENSION) BILL. [H.L.]
  Amendments reported (according to Order).
  AIRDRIE AND COATBRIDGE TRAMWAYS PROVISIONAL ORDER CONFIRMATION BILL. [H.L.]
  Read 3a and passed, and sent to the Commons.

  MINISTRY OF HEALTH PROVISIONAL ORDER (GAS) BILL.
  MINISTRY OF HEALTH PROVISIONAL ORDERS (No. 3) BILL.
  MINISTRY OF HEALTH PROVISIONAL ORDERS (No. 4) BILL.
  MINISTRY OF HEALTH PROVISIONAL ORDER (SOUTHAMPTON EXTENSION) BILL.
  Moved, That the Order made on the 29th day of April last, "That no Provisional Order Confirmation Bill brought from the House of Commons shall be read a second time after Thursday, the 17th of June next," be dispensed with in respect of these Bills; and that the Bills be now read 2a.—(Viscount Astor.)
  On Question, Motion agreed to, and Bills read 2a.

  OSBORNE'S DIVORCE BILL. [H.L.]
  Order of the Day for the House to be put into Committee, read.
  Moved, That the House do now resolve itself into Committee.—(The Lord Chancellor.)
  On Question, Motion agreed to.
  House in Committee accordingly.
  [The EARL of DONOUGEMORE in the Chair.]
  Clauses 1 to 5 agreed to.
  Clause 6:
  Amendment moved—
  Leave out Clause 6.—(The Lord Chancellor.)
  On Question, Amendment agreed to.

  MAYOR'S AND CITY OF LONDON COURT BILL. [H.L.]
  Amendments reported (according to Order).
  Clause 8:
  Procedure in causes within jurisdiction of High Court.
  8. All causes and proceedings in the Court shall be commenced by plaint, but in the case of any cause or proceeding which could not previously to the commencement of this Act have been brought in the City of London Court, but which could have been brought in the Mayor's Court, any party to such cause or proceeding may in manner prescribed by the rules of the Supreme Court apply by summons for directions as to the subsequent procedure to be adopted, and in regard to any such cause or proceeding, the procedure of the Supreme Court shall be adopted and be in force in lieu of the procedure which at the date of the commencement of this Act was in use in the Mayor's Court.
  Provided that the scales of fees and costs now in use in the Mayor's Court shall continue to be in force for all such causes and proceedings as aforesaid, subject to any rules, regulations, or orders to be hereafter made.
  THE LORD CHANCELLOR: My Lords, the manuscript Amendments which I propose in Clause 8 will not be readily intelligible to those who have not followed this matter closely. They are, however, drafting in character and represent an attempt to carry out, with somewhat greater precision than formerly, the assurance which I gave during the Committee stage to Lord Buckmaster. As now drafted they fully meet the point which the noble and learned Lord made.
  Amendments moved—
  Clause 8, page 4, line 14, leave out from ("by") to ("apply") in line 15 and insert ("rules to be made under Section 45 of the Mayor's Court of London Procedure Act, 1857")
  Clause 8, page 4, line 16, after ("and") insert ("provision shall be made by rules under the said section for adopting")
  Clause 8, page 4, line 17, after ("proceeding") insert ("subject to any modifications contained in the rules")
  Clause 8, page 4, lines 17 and 18, leave out ("shall be adopted and be in force")
  Clause 8, page 4, line 24, at end insert ("under the said section").—(The Lord Chancellor.)
  On Question, Amendments agreed to.

  HARBOURS, DOCKS AND PIERS (TEMPORARY INCREASE OF CHARGES) BILL.
  Amendment reported (according to Order).
  From Minutes of July 2.

  OSBORNE'S DIVORCE BILL. [H.L.]
  Order of the Day for the Second Reading read: Counsel called in: Witnesses examined: Moved, That the Bill be now read 2a; agreed to: Bill read 2a accordingly, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Tuesday next.
  House adjourned at half-past four o'clock.

  HOUSE OF LORDS.
  [From Minutes of July 6.]

  SHEKLETON'S DIVORCE BILL. [H.L.]
  Ordered that the Petition of Richard Auchmuty Shekleton (presented on the 21st of June last) be further considered on Thursday next.
  The VISCOUNT FALMOUTH—Sat first in Parliament after the death of his father.

  HEALTH RESORTS AND WATERING PLACES BILL.
  To be read 2a on Tuesday the 27th instant (Lord Southwark).
  GOVERNMENT OF INDIA ACT, 1919 (DRAFT RULES).
  First Report from the Joint Committee made, and to be printed.
MINISTRY OF HEALTH PROVISIONAL ORDERS (No. 6) BILL.
  MINISTRY OF HEALTH PROVISIONAL ORDERS (No. 7) BILL.
  Brought from the Commons; read 1a; to be printed; and referred to the Examiners.
  LONDON AND ELECTRIC RAILWAY COMPANIES (FARES, ETC.) BILL.
  Brought from the Commons; read 1a; and referred to the Examiners.
  FIFE-YOUNGS DIVORCE BILL. [H.L.]
  Returned from the Commons, agreed to.
NEWTOWNARDS URBAN DISTRICT COUNCIL BILL. [H.L.]
  FILEY URBAN DISTRICT COUNCIL BILL. [H.L.]
    ST. ANNES-ON-THE-SEA URBAN DISTRICT COUNCIL BILL. [H.L.]
    Returned from the Commons, agreed to, with Amendments: The said Amendments considered, and agreed to.

    SWANSEA CORPORATION BILL
    WREXHAM DISTRICT TRAMWAYS BILL.
    UPPER MERSEY NAVIGATION BILL.

  PORT OF PORTSMOUTH FLOATING BRIDGE BILL.
    WOOD GREEN URBAN DISTRICT COUNCIL BILL.
    Returned from the Commons, with the Amendments, agreed to.

    PRIVATE LEGISLATION PROCEDURE (SCOTLAND) ACT, 1899.
    Report from the Committee of Selection, that the Lords following be proposed to the House as the panel of Lords to act as Commissioners under the Act, viz.:

    M. Linlithgow;

    L. Elphinstone;

    agreed to; and the said Lords appointed accordingly.

    MARRIAGES PROVISIONAL ORDER BILL.
    LOCAL GOVERNMENT (IRELAND) PROVISIONAL ORDERS (No. 2) BILL.
    PILOTAGE PROVISIONAL ORDERS (No. 1) BILL.
    PILOTAGE PROVISIONAL ORDERS (No. 2) BILL.
    GAS PROVISIONAL ORDERS BILL.
    Reported, without amendment, and recommitted to a Committee of the Whole House to-morrow.
    The LORD CHANCELLOR The LORD CHANCELLOR acquainted the House, That the Clerk of the Parliaments had laid upon the Table the Certificate from the Examiners that the Standing Orders applicable to the following Bill have been compiled with:

    Ministry of Health Provisional Orders (No. 5).

    Also the Certificates that no Standing Orders are applicable to the following Bills:

    Pier and Harbour Provisional Orders (No. 1).

    Pier and Harbour Provisional Orders (No. 2).

    And also the Certificate that the further Standing Orders applicable to the following Bill have been complied with:
    Derwent Valley Water Board.
    The same were ordered to lie on the Table.

    LEIGH CORPORATION BILL.
    Reported from the Select Committee, with Amendments.
  SOUTHAMPTON CORPORATION BILL.
    BLACKPOOL IMPROVEMENT BILL.
    Report from the Select Committee, That the Committee had not proceeded with the consideration of the Bills, no parties having appeared in opposition thereto; read, and ordered to lie on the Tables: The Orders made on the 15th and 28th of June last discharged, and Bills committed for Tuesday next.
    HALIFAX CORPORATION BILL.
    Reported from the Select Committee, with Amendments.

    NORWICH CORPORATION BILL.
    LIFE ASSOCIATION OF SCOTLAND BILL. [H.L.]
    LONDON COUNTY COUNCIL (GENERAL POWERS) BILL.
    RHONDDA URBAN DISTRICT COUNCIL BILL.
    GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY BILL.
    TREDEGAR URBAN DISTRICT COUNCIL BILL.
    PONTYPRIDD URBAN DISTRICT COUNCIL BILL.
    Reported, with Amendments.

    NOTTINGHAM CORPORATION BILL.
    Reported, with Amendments.

    COVENTRY CORPORATION BILL.
    LOWESTOFT CORPORATION RILL.
    Committees to meet on Tuesday next.

    CENTRAL LONDON AND METROPOLITAN DISTRICT RAILWAY COMPANIES (WORKS) BILL.
    The CHAIRMAN of COMMITTEES The CHAIRMAN of COMMITTEES informed the House that the opposition to the Bill was withdrawn: The Orders made on the 17th and 28th of June last, discharged, and Bill committed.
CRIMINAL LAW AMENDMENT BILL. [H.L.]
  CRIMINAL LAW AMENDMENT (No. 2) BILL. [H.L.]

    SEXUAL OFFENCES BILL. [H.L.]
    Message from the Commons that they have appointed a Committee of six members to join with the Committee appointed by this House as mentioned in their Lordships' message of the 22nd of June to consider the said Bills.
    A Message ordered to be sent to the House of Commons to propose that the Joint Committee do meet in Committee Room C. on Thursday next, at Twelve o'clock.