THE CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES (THE EARL OF DONOUGHMORE)My Lords, I do not propose to move the Second Reading of this Bill to-day. I hope I have not in any way inconvenienced any of your Lordships. The noble Lord, Lord Ampthill, gave Notice yesterday of his intention to move the rejection of the Bill. In that case, as your Lordships are aware, I do not move the Second Reading formally, as I do in the case of other Private Bills, and the promoters have to find a Peer to undertake to make the Motion on their behalf. There obviously has not been time since last night for them to make their arrangements, and, therefore, I propose to put down the Second Reading for today week. I communicated last night with the noble Lord, Lord Ampthill, and I was able to communicate this morning with the only other member whom I know to be interested in the Bill, the Duke of Bedford. As I said before, I hope I have not inconvenienced any noble Lord.
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYCan the noble Earl say whether the Bill will be effectively taken next Tuesday?
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYA great many Peers are interested in the matter, and I make the inquiry so that the matter may be publicly known.
THE CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEESI have no reason to think that the promoters will not have ample time in the week to get out any memorandum they want to communicate to the Peers who are arguing in their behalf.