Lords Sitting of 15 February 1922

Preamble
The House met at a quarter before four of the clock, The LORD CHANCELLOR on the Woolsack.
BOLTON CORPORATION BILL. [H.L.]
Read 2ª.
CAMBRIDGE CORPORATION BILL. [H.L.]
Read 2ª.
DONCASTER CORPORATION BILL. [H.L.]
Read 2ª.
HALIFAX CORPORATION BILL. [H.L.]
Read 2ª.
KINGSTON-UPON-HULL CORPORATION BILL. [H.L.]
Read 2ª.
MADRAS RAILWAY ANNUITIES BILL. [H.L.]
Read 2ª.
NOTTINGHAM CORPORATION (TRENT NAVIGATION) BILL. [H.L.]
Read 2ª.
OSSETT CORPORATION (WATER) BILL. [H.L.]
Read 2ª.
RAMSGATE CORPORATION BILL. [H.L.]
Read 2ª.
STOKE-ON-TRENT CORPORATION (GAS CONSOLIDATION) BILL. [H.L.]
Read 2ª.
STRETFORD AND DISTRICT GAS BOARD BILL. [H.L.]
Read 2ª.
TEES CONSERVANCY BILL. [H.L.]
Read 2ª.
WEAR NAVIGATION AND SUNDERLAND DOCK (CONSOLIDATION AND AMENDMENT) BILL. [H.L.]
Read 2ª.

SITUATION IN IRELAND.
THE EARL OF DONOUGHMORE: My Lords, I desire to ask the noble and learned Viscount on the Woolsack a question of which I have given him private notice—namely, whether he has any further communication to make to the House with regard to the condition of affairs in Ireland.
THE LORD CHANCELLOR (VISCOUNT BIRKENHEAD): My Lords, I am not in a position to make a detailed statement in addition to the elaborate statement which I made yesterday in the House, but, having regard to the naturally alarming effect of that which it was my duty to state yesterday, I think it convenient to embrace the opportunity offered to me by the noble Earl to inform your Lordships of what has happened since.
I told your Lordships that Mr. Collins hoped to proceed to London last night. He crossed last night and is, of course, to-day in London. Considerable discussion' has taken place between him and the representatives of His Majesty's Government as to the great momentary anxieties of the situation in Ireland and he is very hopeful that even now, at the time at which I speak, or at an early period, all, or almost all, of those persons who were illegally raided and forcibly taken within the frontiers of the Irish Free State will be released. He is very desirous that an impartial Inquiry should examine the evidence in what has been known as the Clones incident, and should reach and state an authoritative and impartial conclusion upon a matter in which the evidence hitherto presented has been so discordant.
There are several other points of the gravest difficulty causing anxiety at the present moment, to some of which I alluded yesterday. Mr. Collins is strongly in favour of the suggestion I then made that liaison officers should be established on each side in what is the most disturbed district at the moment—namely, the border line between the territory of the Northern Government and the Irish Free State. Mr. Collins's views on these and several other matters have been conveyed to Sir James Craig, and it is satisfactory to notice that on several points which have been so conveyed to Sir James Craig, the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, observing the reasonableness which he has never for a moment lost under the very trying situation in which he finds himself, has given a ready assent.
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I think I am not too sanguine in detecting a hope of co-operation upon these matters, at least between these two men, which affords greater prospect of a pacific outcome from the difficulties of the moment than I have ventured to entertain until now. And, for what it is worth, I can only repeat to your Lordships the reassurance, based upon my own personal conviction, that, just as Sir James Craig is in an extremely trying and anxious position, so Mr. Collins is in an extremely trying and anxious position; and I believe that he is doing his best to carry out the letter and spirit of his obligation. And if these two men, each of whom is bearing so terrible a burden of responsibility, can be reinforced by moderate support in both countries, we may still, I think, venture to entertain the hope that the anxieties of the last few weeks and clays may receive a happy solution.
THE EARL OF MAYO: May I ask the noble and learned Viscount what the composition of the Judicial Inquiry will be?
THE LORD CHANCELLOR: The noble Earl must not press me too closely upon that. It was only this morning that the suggestion was made and, as far as Mr. Collins is concerned, was accepted. The noble Earl must be content to leave it to us, acting in concert with Mr. Collins and Sir James Craig, to secure that which we shall undertake—that there shall be an Inquiry which by its impartiality will command the support of reasonable persons.

CONSOLIDATION BILL PROCEDURE.
LORD MUIR MACKENZIE: My Lords, I beg to make the Motion of which I have given Notice—namely:—"That it is desirable that all Consolidation Bills in the present session be referred to a Joint Committee of both Houses of Parliament." I have had the honour of moving a Resolution of this kind not once nor twice, and your Lordships have always been good enough to accede to it. It is generally allowed, I think, in both Houses of Parliament that the work of consolidation is useful if it is not very exciting, and I have reason to think, at any rate I hope, that the noble and learned Viscount on the Woolsack approves of this Motion and desires that we should get on with this work as far as we can. I happen to know that there are several Bills already in such

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a position that they might very soon be brought before such a Committee, and if the House accepts the Motion, I have no doubt the Committee will put their backs into the work. I beg to move.
Moved to resolve, "That it is desirable that all Consolidation Bills in the present session be referred to a Joint Committee of both Houses of Parliament."—(Lord Muir Mackenzie.]
THE LORD CHANCELLOR: The noble and learned Lord very frequently discharges a useful duty in making this Motion and, as he told your Lordships, I am entirely in favour of it. I do not apprehend that there will be any difference of opinion upon the point.
On Question, Motion agreed to.

CORONERS (EMERGENCY PROVISIONS CONTINUANCE) BILL. [H.L.]
Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY OF THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH (THE EARL OF ONSLOW): My Lords, the Government hope to introduce legislation this session for the general amendment of the law relating to coroners. This Bill is introduced merely to continue until the end of this year the war time Regulations which would otherwise automatically expire on February 28. I hope that your
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Lordships will give a Second Reading to the Bill.
On Question, Bill read 2ª, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House.

GAS (CARBON MONOKIDE) ORDER, 1922.
THE CHANCELLOR OF THE DUCHY OF LANCASTER (VISCOUNT PEEL): My Lords, I beg to make the Motion which stands in my name on the Paper.
Moved, "That the Draft of a Special Order proposed to be made by the Board of Trade under Section 2, subsection (4), of the Gas Regulation Act, 1920, limiting the proportion of carbon monoxide which may be supplied in gas used for domestic purposes, which was presented on the 8th February and published, be approved."
On Question, Motion agreed to.

BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE.
THE FIRST COMMISSIONER OF WORKS (THE EARL OF CRAWFORD): My Lords, I beg to move that the House do now adjourn, except for Judicial business, till Tuesday next.
Moved accordingly, and, on Question, Motion agreed to.
House adjourned at five minutes past lour o'clock till Tuesday next, a quarter past four o'clock.