Lords Sitting of 27 March 1929

Preamble
The House met at eleven of the clock, The LORD CHANCELLOR On the Woolsack.

THE EASTER RECESS.
THE DUKE OF BUCCLEUCH: My Lords, I want to ask my noble friend the Leader of the House whether, in consequence of the Commons having a rather longer holiday, it would be convenient to take the Report stage of the Local Government (Scotland) Bill a few days later than at present proposed. I think I might state that it would suit some of your Lordships who are going North for the Easter Recess rather better than the original arrangement suggested.
THE LORD PRIVY SEAL (THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY): My Lords, I have done my best, according to my promise at a late hour last night, to make myself acquainted with all the relevant facts in respect of business both in your Lordships' House and in another place, in order to see whether it would be possible to postpone the reassembling of the House until a few days later after Easter, and I have come to the conclusion that as it appears to be the desire of noble Lords sitting in every part of the House that there should be a rather longer holiday, it would be possible to postpone the Report stage of the Local Government (Scotland) Bill for a few days. The suggestion which I have to make, therefore, is that instead of re-assembling on Thursday, April 11, we should meet again on Tuesday, April 16. There is business down on that day, but I do not propose to take the Scottish Bill until Wednesday the 17th. The House will meet on the Tuesday and take the Report stage of the Scottish Bill on Wednesday. I hope your Lordships will accept that arrangement.
LORD PARMOOR: My Lords, of course we are willing to assent to the view that there should be a longer holiday. I do not suppose the noble Marquess expected that any one would oppose that. But I have a special Motion down for Wednesday, April 17—[in

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favour of the ratification of the Washington Eight Hours Convention]—and it has been down a long time. To my mind it deals with a very important matter—a question connected with Geneva. When I occupied a similar position to that of the noble Marquess I always endeavoured to preserve Motions which had been placed upon the Paper for some time; at any rate, Motions which those who had placed them on the Paper regarded as of considerable importance. I do not know whether the noble Marquess would allow my Motion to be saved and to bring on the Report stage afterwards on the Wednesday. I think it is a mistake, not only in my own case, to interfere with private Motions, especially with one which has been upon the Paper for quite three weeks or a month and is in the name of the Leader of the Opposition. I do not suppose that my Motion will take long, but I think it is extremely important and I hope that the principle will be preserved that important private Motions shall not be interfered with.
THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY: My Lords, I am sorry that the noble and learned Lord finds a difficulty in this arrangement, but I hope he will not press his objection. I think if he and I confer together we can find a most admirable day for his Motion, which I shall, of course, take care to preserve, and I think he will have full opportunity of developing his views on the day we shall fix. I see that there is only a Motion for the Second Reading of a Bill, in the name of a noble Lord on the Liberal Benches, down for Thursday, the 18th. I do not think that that Bill is likely to take very long, and if the noble and learned Lord will confer with me I think we can arrange a suitable, and perhaps a better, day for him, because it is not likely that there will be a very large attendance immediately after the holidays. I hope he will not press his objection.
LORD PARMOOR: I certainly will not press my objection, because I think the Leader of the House always endeavours to meet the general convenience, but if the noble Marquess will look at the Paper he will find that on Thursday, April 18, there is a Motion down in the name of Lord Strachie, with reference to the Rating and Valuation (Village Halls) Bill. If
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the noble Marquess could do his best to preserve that day—I think it is certain that the Report stage of the Scottish Bill can be completed on one day—I shall be much obliged to him. I cannot say that I shall oppose what he wishes, because I think we should endeavour to assist the Leader of the House in getting through business in the most efficient manner.
THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY: The noble Lord places me in a very difficult position, because I am bound to confess to him that it was really to suit my own convenience that I was asking the House not to take the Scottish Bill on the 16th, because it so happens that it is extremely inconvenient for me personally and I must be here as being the Cabinet Minister in charge. Therefore I very naturally suggested that we should take the next possible day, the 17th. But that places me under a very great obligation to the noble Lord if he does not press his objection to the 17th for the Scottish Bill, and I will do my very utmost to arrange for his Motion on the following day.
LORD PARMOOR: I assure the noble Marquess that I will not press the right—which I have really under the Rules of this House—to the first place on Wednesday, to which he has referred. I quite consent to that. I want to meet the noble Marquess in every way I possibly can, but I hope that if I transfer my Motion to the following day, the Thursday, there will be full time available for its discussion.
THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY: I will do my best. I cannot answer for Lord Strachie. That is the difficulty.
LORD PARMOOR: I meant after Lord Strachie. I would not ask the noble Marquess to put my Motion before the Bill of Lord Strachie.
THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY: Oh! after Lord Strachie; I will certainly do my best.

IMPERIAL CONTINENTAL GAS ASSOCIATION BILL. [H.L.]
Committed for Tuesday, April 16 next.

PONTYPRIDD URBAN DISTRICT COUNCIL BILL.
Read 2aand committed: The Committee to be proposed by the Committee of Selection.
Report from the Committee of Selection, That the five Lords appointed a Select Committee on the Westminster City (Millbank) Improvement Bill do form the Select Committee for the consideration of the Pontypridd Urban District Council Bill: Read, and agreed to: All Petitions referred to the Committee, with leave to the Petitioners praying to be heard by Counsel against the Bill to be heard as desired, as also Counsel for the Bill.

LEAMINGTON AND WARWICK TRACTION BILL.
LEWES CORPORATION BILL.
METROPOLITAN RAILWAY BILL.
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE AND GATESHEAD GAS BILL.
SOKE AND CITY OF PETERBOROUGH BILL.
Brought from the Commons; read 1a; and referred to the Examiners.

SOLICITORS' ACTS CONSOLIDATION BILL.
Message from the Commons that they have come to the following Resolution to which they desire the concurrence of this House—namely, "That it is expedient that the Solicitors' Acts Consolidation Bill be referred to the Joint Committee on Consolidation Bills."
SOUTHAMPTON CORPORATION BILL.
Read 2a, and committed.
LLANFRECHFA UPPER AND LLANTARNAM WATER BOARD BILL.
Read 2a.
WARRINGTON CORPORATION BILL. [H.L.]
Read 3a, and passed, and sent to the Commons.
GALLOWAY WATER POWER BILL. [H.L.]
Read 3a, and passed, and sent to the Commons.

MANCHESTER CORPORATION BILL. [H.L.]
YORKTOWN (CAMBERLEY) AND DISTRICT GAS AND ELECTRICITY COMPANY BILL. [H.L.]
COUNTY OF CORNWALL BILL. [H.L.]
SOUTH LANCASHIRE TRAMWAYS COMPANY (TROLLEY VEHICLES, ETC.) BILL. [H.L.]
GRIMSBY CORPORATION (DOCK, ETC.) BILL. [H.L.]
WANDSWORTH, WIMBLEDON AND EPSOM DISTRICT GAS BILL. [H.L.]
DERBYSHIRE AND NOTTINGHAMSHIRE ELECTRIC POWER BILL. [H.L.]
LONDON COUNTY COUNCIL (GENERAL POWERS) BILL. [H.L.]
KINGSTON-UPON-HULL EXTENSION BILL. [H.L.]
THE CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES (THE EARL OF DONOUGHMORE): My Lords, with reference to these Bills I move that Standing Order No. 143 be dispensed with. That is not an unusual Motion before the adjournment, and the Bills are First House Bills; therefore I think your Lordships are not doing anything wrong in suspending the Standing Order as usual.
Moved, That Standing Order No. 143 be considered in order to its being dispensed with in respect of the said Bills, and that the Bills be now read 3a.—(The Earl of Donoughmore.)
On Question, Motion agreed to: Bills read 3a accordingly, and passed, and sent to the Commons.

MINISTRY OF HEALTH PROVISIONAL ORDERS (No. 1) BILL.
Read 3a(according to Order), and passed.
MINISTRY OF HEALTH PROVISIONAL ORDERS (No. 2) BILL.
Read 3a(according to Order), and passed.
PENSIONS (GOVERNORS OF DOMINIONS, ETC.) BILL.
Read 3a(according to Order), and passed.
CONSOLIDATED FUND (No. 2) BILL.
Read 3a(according to Order), and passed.

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE (TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS AMENDMENT) BILL.
Read 3a(according to Order), and passed.
House adjourned during pleasure.
House resumed.

ROYAL COMMISSION.
The Royal Assent was given to the following Bills:—

Consolidated Fund (No. 2),

Superannuation (Diplomatic Service),

Overseas Trade,

Agricultural Credits (Scotland),

Northern Ireland Land,

Factory and Workshop (Cotton Cloth Factories),

Pensions (Governors of Dominions, etc.),

Local Government,

Unemployment Insurance (Northern Ireland Agreement),

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Unemployment Insurance (Transitional Provisions Amendment),

Parliament Square and other Streets,

Ministry of Health Provisional Orders (No. 1),

Ministry of Health Provisional Orders, (No. 2),

Glasgow Young Women's Christian Association Order Confirmation,

Glasgow Corporation Order Confirmation,

Asiatic Steam Navigation Company,

Lancashire Electric Power,

Sheffield Gas (Consolidation).

House adjourned during pleasure.
House resumed.

ARMY AND AIR FORCE (ANNUAL) BILL.
Brought from the Commons; read 1a; and to be printed.
RECONSTITUTED CREAM BILL.
Brought from the Commons; read 1a; and to be printed.

SAVINGS BANKS BILL.
Brought from the Commons; read 1a; and to be printed.
House adjourned at a quarter past twelve o'clock.