HC Deb 24 February 1879 vol 243 cc1702-3

Order for Second Reading read.

SIR MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEY

, in moving that the Bill be now read a second time, said, it gave the Government power by an Order in Council to group certain counties and boroughs together for the purpose of the Spring Assizes, as it would be in the knowledge of some hon. Members had already been done in the case of the Winter Assizes. The Spring Assizes would shortly commence; and it was very important, therefore, that this Bill should be at once passed. Its object was to effect an economy of time and labour; and therefore he hoped the House would not object to read it a second time.

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Bill be now read a second time."—(Sir Matthew Ridley.)

MR. PARNELL

thought more time should have been given for considering the bearing of this important measure. Did it apply to Ireland? ["No!"] If it did not, his objections to it were, to a certain extent, removed; but, at the same time, he doubted whether it was desirable to have additional Assizes. The Bill of last year had not worked particularly well. In any case, however, he thought the practice of bringing in Bills of that importance at so late an hour was to be deprecated.

MR. ASSHETON CROSS

said, the Assizes began on the 22nd of next month; and unless this Bill passed it would be necessary for the Judges to go to each town on the Circuit, to the great expense of the country, the jurors, and everybody else. The Bill was simply to enable small counties to be grouped together, in order to save expense at the Spring Assizes.

MR. COURTNEY

said, he wished to ask a Question on a point of Order. He understood the hon. Member for Cumberland had given Notice of an Amendment to the Bill?

MR. ASSHETON CROSS

He has withdrawn it.

MR. WADDY

asked the House whether it was a right and proper thing to ask them to pass a Bill which was not printed? [Mr. ASSHETON CROSS: Oh, yes, it is.] He asked for the Bill within the last ten minutes at the Office, and was told that he could not have one, as the Bill was not printed. [Mr. ASSHETON CROSS: It was circulated last Saturday.] As a matter of fact, he had asked for it within the last ten minutes, and told that he could not have it.

MR. MORGAN LLOYD

said, the Bill appeared to him to be one of a merely temporary nature. There was a difficulty in regard to the Spring Assizes which could only be got over by the passage of a short Act of this kind. He should like to ask whether this Bill was to be considered as finally settling the question of the arrangement of the Assizes, or whether, even supposing the Bill passed, the House might not have an opportunity hereafter of discussing the whole question?

MR. ASSHETON CROSS

hoped the House would allow him to explain that this Bill was not at all meant as a settlement of the question. The House would have another opportunity of fully discussing the whole matter.

Motion agreed to.

Bill read a second time, and committed for Thursday.