Lords Sitting of 9 April 1936

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

THE EASTER RECESS.
THE EARL OF LUCAN: My Lords, on behalf of my noble friend the Leader of the House (Viscount Halifax), I beg to move the Resolution which stands in his name on the Order Paper.
Moved to resolve, That the House on its adjournment do adjourn for business, other than Judicial Business, until the 28th instant, except that if it appears to the satisfaction of the Lord Chancellor that the public interest requires that the House should meet at an earlier time during such adjournment, the Lord Chancellor may give notice to the Peers that he is so satisfied, and thereupon the House shall meet at the time stated in such notice, and shall transact its business as if it had been duly adjourned to that time.—(The Earl of Lucan.)
On Question, Motion agreed to, and ordered accordingly.

PUBLIC SEWERS (CONTRIBUTIONS BY FRONTAGERS).
Message from the Commons to acquaint this House that they concur in the Resolution passed by this House on Thursday last—namely, That it is expedient that a Joint Committee of both Houses of Parliament be appointed to consider the provisions of Sections 62 and 64 of the Romford Urban District Council Act, 1931, with respect to contributions by frontagers to the expenses of the construction of public sewers, and to make recommendations as to the circumstances in which, and the conditions upon which, similar provisions should be allowed in future Bills.
PUBLIC HEALTH BILL. [H.L.]
Messags from the Commons to acquaint this House that they concur in the Resolution passed by this House on Thursday last—namely, That it is desirable that the Public Health Bill [H.L.] be referred to a Joint Committee of both Houses of Parliament.
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE (AGRICULTURE) BILL.
Returned from the Commons, with the Amendments agreed to.

MALTA (LETTERS PATENT) BILL [H.L.]
THE EARL OF LUCAN THE EARL OF LUCAN: My Lords, on behalf of my noble friend the Earl of Plymouth, I beg leave to introduce a Bill to remove the limitation of His Majesty's power to revoke or amend the Malta Constitution Letters Patent, 1921; to declare the validity of certain Ordinances of the Governor of Malta; and for purposes connected with the matters aforesaid. I move that the Bill be now read a first time.
Moved, That the Bill be now read 1a.—(The Earl of Lucan.)
On Question, Bill read 1a; and to be printed.
House adjourned during pleasure.
House resumed.

ROYAL COMMISSION.
The following Bills received the Royal Assent:

British Shipping (Continuance of Subsidy),

Unemployment Insurance (Agriculture),

Brighton Marine Palace and Pier,

Warkworth Harbour,

South Essex Waterworks.

House adjourned during pleasure.
House resumed.

ARMY AND AIR FORCE (ANNUAL) BILL.
Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
THE UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (LORD STRATHCONA AND MOUNT ROYAL): My Lords, there are no changes of far-reaching importance in this Bill this year, and I understand that it is the wish of your Lordships that I should not detain you any longer on this occasion. I beg, therefore, to move that the Bill be now read a second time.
Moved, That the Bill be now read 2a.—(Lord Strathcona and Mount Royal.)
THE CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES (THE EARL OF ONSLOW): My Lords, may I ask my noble friend one question on Clause 5? The Memorandum says that Section 146 of the Army Act provides that regular officers on the active list shall not be eligible for certain appointments. Then it says that the new clause:
" proposes to remove these anomalies by repealing the relevant part of Section 146. The position of officers and soldiers in regard to candidature for local government councils will then fall to be dealt with by departmental regulation."
I should like to know exactly what that means, because it is a little obscure from the Memorandum.
LORD STRATHCONA AND MOUNT ROYAL: This question was dealt with very fully elsewhere. The clause was, I believe, introduced into the Army Act this year to meet an objection that had been raised beforehand: that there was differentiation between officers and men in this respect. This is now an agreed Amendment, and will therefore, I understand, meet any criticisms that were raised on this issue.
THE EARL OF ONSLOW: I beg my noble friend's pardon; he has not answered my
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question. The whole matter is to be dealt with "by departmental regulation "?
LORD STRATHCONA AND MOUNT ROYAL: That, I take it, means that all questions are to be decided on their merits by the Army Council.
On Question, Bill read 2a, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House.

BATH GAS ORDER, 1936.
Special Order proposed to be made on the application of the Bath Gas Company:
Laid before the House (pursuant to Act) for affirmative Resolution and referred to the Special Orders Committee.

STROUD GAS ORDER, 1936.
Special Order proposed to be made on the application of the Stroud Gaslight and Coke Company:
Laid before the House (pursuant to Act) for affirmative Resolution and referred to the Special Orders Committee.
House adjourned at twenty minutes before twelve o'clock.