§ Order for Second Reading read.
MR. ATTORNEY GENERALin moving that the Bill be now read a second time, said, that the Rules framed under the Judicature Act of last Session had now, after long preparation, been considered finally by the whole body of the Judges, but they could not be promulgated until this Bill, which was merely 1265 a Supplementary Bill to that of last year, was passed. The Bill would extend the jurisdiction of the appellate power of the Imperial Court of Appeal to Scotland and Ireland, as well as to England. Another main object of the Bill was to provide, in certain specified cases, for a second appeal. With a view to make the Court of Appeal as important as possible, it was proposed that it should be divided into two or more Divisions; that the first Division should be composed of a larger number of members, and that five at least should sit to hear appeals, so as to give greater weight and authority to their decisions. That Division was to consist of three ex officio Judges—namely, the Lord Chancellor, and two other ex officio Judges, who were to be alternately, every two years, the Lord Chief Justice of England and the Master of the Rolls in England, and the Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas in England and the Chief Baron of the Exchequer in England; and also of certain other Judges, to be selected from the additional and ordinary Judges of the Imperial Court of Appeal. He hoped the Bill would be read a second time.
§ Motion made and Question proposed, "That the Bill be now read a second time."—(The Attorney General.)
§ SIR GEORGE BOWYERsaid, he would not move that the Bill be read a second time this day three months on the understanding that an opportunity of discussing the measure would be given on going into Committee.
§ Motion agreed to.
§ Bill read a second time, and committed for Friday, at Two of the clock.