Sitting of 30 May 1893

Preamble
Several Lords—Took the Oath.
LONDON STREETS (REMOVAL OF GATES, &C.) BILL.

  THIRD READING.
  Order of the Day for the Third Reading, read.
  Moved, "That the Bill he now read 3a."—(The Earl of Morley.)
  THE EARL OF FEVERSHAMasked the noble Lord the Chairman of Committees if he would consent to postpone the Third Reading for a week to afford an opportunity for discussing the provisions of the Bill at a meeting of the inhabitants of Belgravia to be held on the 3rd of June. Attention had not, in fact, been called to the Bill before it reached the Committee stage in their Lordships' House, and, under the circumstances, it was desired that an opportunity should be afforded of considering the measure before it passed the final stage. The Bill affected all bars throughout Belgravia, and gave no compensation whatever, unlike the other cases in which bars had been removed.
  THE CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES (The EARL OF MORLEY)said, the noble Lord was somewhat late in opposing the Bill at its last stage. It had been before Committees of both Houses of Parliament, unopposed, he understood, by the inhabitants of the Belgravian district, and it was now somewhat late to bring opposition to bear against it. He would ask the noble Lord whether it was worth while in the circumstances to oppose the Third Reading of the Bill.
  THE EARL OF FEVERSHAMsaid, that it was not known exactly what the Bill contained, and great opposition was raised against it. The extraordinary point was that so important a measure should have gone through its various stages without anybody knowing anything about it.
  *THE EARL OF BELMOREsaid that, though the Bill had been opposed before the Committees of both Houses, in the House of Lords the opposition was confined to a few bars. The Duke of Portland had opposed the Bill in the House of Commons, but not in this House; whilst the Duke of Westminster had not appeared, nor had Earl Cadogan. The only parts which were opposed in their Lordships' House were those relating to Bryanston Square, Prince's Gardens, Shepherd's Bush, and in Doughty Street, where opposition was offered by the Holborn Local Board, because something had been done in the House of Commons behind their back after they had withdrawn their opposition upon the merits of the case. The Committee passed the Bill with only one Amendment in the case of the last-mentioned bar; but they had not before them the question of the Belgravian bars, as to which there was, therefore, nothing for them to decide upon. It would be very unusual for the Bill to be postponed at this stage, and, indeed, it was difficult to see what could now be done if it were. Their Lordships would hardly be likely to recommit the Bill, even were the Third Reading postponed.
  THE EARL OF FEVERSHAM THE EARL OF FEVERSHAM moved the postponement of the Third Reading.
  THE EARL OF MORLEYpointed out that it was quite impossible for opposition to be taken to the Bill at the present stage, and that it was not likely that the House would re-commit it. Full notice was given of the intention to bring in the Bill, and anybody who desired to oppose it had the opportunity of going before the Select Committee. The House would hardly listen now at the last stage to any opposition which was not offered there, and it seemed hardly worth while to further postpone the Bill.
  THE LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL AND SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (The Earl of KIMBERLEY): My Lords, I cannot help saying a few words in support of the noble Lord. Here is a Bill which has been through all its stages, and ample opportunity has been given for opposing it. At the last moment opposition is offered. It is too late for us now to postpone the Bill with the view of in some way or other altering it of throwing it out. To do so would, it seems to

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  me, be open to great misconstruction, and I do not think there is sufficient reason for it.
  Motion agreed to; Bill read 3a, with the Amendments, and passed, and returned to the Commons.

THE SCOTTISH EDUCATION CODE.

  QUESTION. OBSERVATIONS.
  *LORD BALFOUR: My Lords, I desire to ask the Lord President of the Council a question of which I have given him private notice. A Minute of the Scottish Education Department relating to secondary education in Scotland was laid on the Table of both Houses of Parliament on May 1. The Minute had, as stated in the last paragraph, to lie on the Table for 30 days, but of this number 14 days have been absorbed by the holidays. During the first 16 days the contents of the Minute had not become very widely known in Scotland, but since that time and during the Recess a great deal of opposition to it has gathered; and the question I wish to ask the noble Lord, without raising any controversy on the subject at the present time, or in any way going into the merits of it, is whether the Government will allow the Minute to lie a few days longer in order that the provisions of the Minute may be fully considered?
  THE EARL OF KIMBERLEY: I am glad to inform the noble Lord that we are quite ready to allow the Minute to lie on the Table until June 8.
  LORD BALFOUR: Then I shall move on that day that a humble Address be presented to Her Majesty praying that her consent may be withheld from the Minute of the Education Department relating to Scotland, dated the 1st May, 1893.

ELEMENTARY EDUCATION (RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION) BILL [H.L.]—(No. 52.)
  COMMITTEE.
  THE BISHOP OF SALISBURY THE BISHOP OF SALISBURY, with the permission of the House, postponed this stage of the Bill until Thursday next, the Amendments proposed not having yet been circulated.
  ELEMENTARY EDUCATION PROVISIONAL ORDERS CONFIRMATION (CHISWICK, &c.) BILL [H.L.]—(No. 53.)
  Committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Thursday next.
  MADRAS AND BOMBAY ARMIES BILL [H.L.]—(No. 66).
  Reported from the Standing Committee, with Amendments: the Report of the Amendments made in Committee of the Whole House and by the Standing Committee to be received on Thursday next; and Bill to be printed as amended. (No. 107.)
  METROPOLITAN COMMONS PROVISIONAL ORDER (ORPINGTON) BILL. (No. 32.)
  Road 3a (according to order), and passed.
  WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE BILL [H.L.]
  A Bill for extending the right of voting at Parliamentary, municipal, and county council elections in the United Kingdom to duly qualified women—Was presented by the Lord Denman; read 1a; and to be printed. (No. 109.)
  NORTH SEA FISHERIES BILL.
  Brought from the Commons; read la; to be printed; and referred to the Examiners. (No. 110.)
  TREASURY CHEST FUND BILL.
  Brought from the Commons; read la; to be printed; and referred to the Examiners. (No. 111.)
  WEIGHTS AND MEASURES BILL.
  Brought from the Commons; read la; to be printed; and referred to the Examiners. (No. 112.)
  LOCAL GOVERNMENT (IRELAND) PROVISIONAL ORDERS (No. 3) BILL.
  Brought from the Commons; read la; to be printed; and referred to the Examiners. (No. 113.)
  LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROVISIONAL ORDER (HOUSING OF WORKING CLASSES) BILL.
  Brought from the Commons; read la; to be printed; and referred to the Examiners. (No. 114.)
  LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROVISIONAL ORDERS (No. 4) BILL.
  Brought from the Commons; read la; to be printed; and referred to the Examiners. (No. 115.)
  LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROVISIONAL ORDERS (No. 9) BILL.
  Brought from the Commons; read la; to be printed; and referred to the Examiners. (No. 116.)
  PIER AND HARBOUR PROVISIONAL ORDERS (No. 1) BILL.
  Brought from the Commons: read la; to be printed; and referred to the Examiners. (No. 117.)

  PIER AND HARBOUR PROVISIONAL ORDERS (No. 2) BILL.
  Brought from the Commons; read 1a; to be printed; and referred to the Examiners. (No. 118.)
  House adjourned at a quarter before Six o'clock, to Thursday next, a quarter past Ten o'clock.