Sitting of 18 October 1917

Preamble
The Lord FAIRFAX OF CAMERON took the Oath.
SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE MOND GAS (POWER AND HEATING) (No. 2) BILL. [H.L.]
Read 2a (according to Order).
BESTOWAL OF HONOURS.
EARL LOREBURN: My Lords, I desire to give notice that on Wednesday, October 31, I propose to call attention to the abuses connected with the bestowal of honours, and to move a Resolution.
THE SITUATION IN INDIA.
LORD SYDENHAM: My Lords, I beg to give notice that on Wednesday, October 24, if that day be quite convenient to His Majesty's Government, I shall call attention to the present situation in India, with special regard to the internment and release of Mrs. Besant; and move for Papers.
TITLES (DEPRIVATION) BILL. [H.L.]
Returned from the Commons, agreed to.

ACTING CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES.
The LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (EARL CURZON OF KEDLESTON): My Lords, your Lordships may have noticed in the Press that we are about to lose the services for a time—I hope for a short time only—of the noble Chairman of Committees, Lord Donoughmore. He has been asked, and has consented, to accompany the Secretary of State for India on a Mission to that country to assist in advising His Majesty's Government as to the institution of administrative and constitutional changes there after the war. This is a very important Mission, and, much as we shall miss our noble friend Lord Donoughmore, we wish him every success in this undertaking, for which, I am sure your Lordships will agree, he is admirably well qualified. In the meantime we have to find some noble Lord to act for him in his absence. The qualifications we look for in such a case are, it seems to me, long acquaintance with the traditions and practice of your Lordships' House, familiarity with our Committee procedure and with Private Bill legislation, and general
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acceptability to all sections in your Lordships' House. These qualifications are, I think, very happily combined in my noble friend Lord Kintore, who has consented to place his services at our disposal. I feel confident, therefore, that I shall find no difficulty in asking you to agree to the Motion which I now make.
Moved, That the Lord Kintore (E. Kintore) be appointed to take the Chair in all Committees of this House for the remainder of this Session in the absence of the Viscount Hutchinson (E. Donoughmore); that the Lord Kintore do take the Chair in all Committees of the Whole House, unless where it shall have been otherwise directed by the House; that the Lord Kintore do also take the Chair in all Committees upon Private Bills and other matters, unless where it shall have been otherwise directed by the House.—(Earl Curzon of Kedleston.)
THE MARQUESS OF CREWE: My Lords, perhaps it may be desirable that something should be said from these benches in support of the Motion which has been made by the noble Earl who leads the House. With both sections of his speech I am sure your Lordships will entirely concur. In the first place, for the arduous and difficult task of assisting in the new Mission to India, if that be the word, of my right hon. friend the Secretary of State, Lord Donoughmore, we shall all agree, is most thoroughly fitted, both by character and experience; and equally I am certain we shall all agree, those of us who have had the opportunity of seeing anything of the work done by Lord Kintore on Private Bill Committees and in the general business of the House, that his acceptance for the time being of the Lord Chairmanship, the House as a whole will desire to Welcome. I therefore cordially support the Motion made by the noble Earl opposite.
On Question, Motion agreed to.

BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE
EARL CURZON OF KEDLESTON: My Lords, I move that the House do adjourn until Tuesday next.
Moved accordingly, and, on Question Motion agreed to.
House adjourned at twenty-five minutes before five o'clock.