§ Order for Second Reading read.
§ Moved, "That the Bill be now read a second time."—(Sir George Grey.
§ SIR GEORGE GREY, in moving the second reading of the Bill, said, the measure proposed that the class of houses to which it referred should be closed during the hours between one and four o'clock in the morning. Since the Bill had been printed and circulated, the licensed victuallers of the metropolis, whom it chiefly concerned, had held a meeting, and passed resolutions entirely concurring in its object, believing it would be conducive to public morality and not prejudicial to their interests. They and the refreshment housekeepers had made some suggestions as to certain exceptions being made in the case of houses which were licensed for musical and other entertainments. It was desired that there should be a power of granting an occasional licence for such places to be kept open beyond one o'clock; and he should endeavour to prepare a clause for that purpose. He wished also to amend the Bill by including the City of London within its operation, because, though geographically within the metropolitan district, the City was not technically within it.
§ Motion agreed to.
§ Bill read 2°, and committed for Monday, 6th June.