The third reading is a stage of great importance, on which the entire measure Is reviewed, and the house determines whether, after the amendments that have been made on previous stages, it is fit on the whole to Pass and become law. The question, "that this bill do paw," which immediately snececds the third reading, Is usually no more than a form, but there have been occasions on which that question lute been opposed, and even negatived. The title of the bill le settled last of all.
An interval of some days usually elapses between each of the prin. cipal stages of a bill; but when there Is any particular cause for haste, and there is no opposition, these delays are dispensed with, and the bill is allowed to pass through several stages, and occasionally through all, on the same day.
This statement of the progress of bills applies equally to both houses of parliament. There is, however, a slight distinction in tho title of a bill while pending in the lords, which is always " intituled an act," whether it has originated in the lords or has been brought up from the commons.
When the commons have passed a bill, they send it to the lords by one of their own members, who is usually accompanied by others. The lords send down bills by two masters in chancery ; unless they relate to the crown or the royal family, in which case they are generally sent by two judges.
Prirate deliberating upon private bills parliament may he considered as acting judicially. The conflicting interests of private parties, the rights of individuals, and the protection of the public, have to be reconciled. Care must be taken, in furthering an apparently useful object, that injustice be not done to individuals, although the public may derive advantage from it. Vigilance and caution should be exercised lest parties professing to have the public interests in view should be establishing, under the protection of a statute, an injurious monopoly. The rights of landowners amongst themselves, and of the poor, must be scrutinised in passing an enclosure hilt Every descrip tion of interest is affected by the making of a railway.
The inquiries that are necessary to be conducted in order to deter mine upon the merits of private bills are too extensive for the house to undertake, and it has therefore been usual to delegate them to com mittees. To prevent parties from being taken by surprise, the stand ing orders require certain notices to be given (to the public by adver tisement, and to parties interested by personal service) of the intention to petition parliament. The first thing which is done on receiving the
petition therefore, is to inquire whether these notices have been properly given, and if all other forms prescribed by the standing orders have been observed. This inquiry is confided to the examiners of private bills, two officers who act for both houses, who report their determination to the house. When a private bill has been read a second time, it is conimmitted, according to its character, to the com mittee of selection, to the general committee on railway and canal bills, or to the select committee on divorce bills. The committee of selection consists of the chairman of the standing orders committee and five other members nominated by the house, of whom three are a quorum. This committee classifies the bills, and nominates the chair man and members of the committee for each. The railway and divorce committees proceed in the like manner. For every opposed railway, canal, or road bill, the committee consists of five members not interested in the bill in progress. Unopposed bills are referred to the chairman of the committee of ways and means and two other members. The committees on opposed bills may hear counsel and examine witnesses,—divisions amongst the committee are decided by a majority, and the result of their labours is reported to the house.
Public bills are occasionally referred to select committees; these, however, must also pass through a committee of the whole house.
It will not be necessary to pursue any further the progress of private bills, which differs only from that already described in respect of bills of a public nature, in the necessity for certain specified intervals between each stage, and for notices in the private bill office.
In the House of Lords, when a private bill is unopposed, it is com mitted to the permanent chairman of committees, and any other peers may attend ; but when a bill is to be opposed, the committee on stand ing orders inquires whether the standing orders have been complied with, and if so, the bill is referred to a committee of five, and a similar course is followed to that of the lower house.