§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
THE CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES (THE EARL OF ONSLOW)My Lords, I beg to move that this Bill be read a second time.
§ Moved, That the Bill be now read 2a—(The Earl of Onslow.)
§ LORD JESSELMy Lords, this Bill was down for Second Reading on Thursday last and a certain objection was taken to it by my noble friend Lord Aberdeen and myself. It is a Private Bill and, for the reason I have stated, its Second Reading is being moved to-day instead of on Thursday last. The Chairman of Committees, as your Lordships know, is not in a position to explain the provisions of the Bill because he only acts officially in the matter. We were told that some other noble Lord would have to be present to explain the provisions to which we objected. Since that time we have had an opportunity of meeting the promoters of the Bill. The matter really arises out of the repeal of a section in a former Act. Clause 102 reads:
Section 89 (For securing continuous working of Inner Circle) of the Metropolitan and District Railways (City Lines and Extensions) Act, 1879, is hereby repealed.I might explain that this means continuous running. It has been found now that that is inconvenient, and considerable objection was taken to its repeal in another place. Since we have seen the promoters they have given us certain undertakings, which are not put in the Bill, but those of your Lordships who have served on Select Committees on Private Bills are aware that these undertakings have never been known to be broken. Naturally we are content with them. I understand that the Bill, being opposed, will now go in the usual course to a Private Bill Committee. In those circumstances my noble friend and 268 I are satisfied that these undertakings will be again given and therefore we do not raise any further objection on Second Reading.
§ On Question, Bill read 2a.