HC Deb 25 May 1824 vol 11 cc857-8
Mr. Mansfield

presented a petition from certain Pawnbrokers of Leicester, praying that this bill might not be passed into a law: at least, not before the petitioners had been heard by their counsel against it.

Mr. S. Whitbread

presented a similar petition from 97 pawnbrokers of London and Southward. The hon. member moved, that the petitioners be heard by counsel against the bill.

Sir J. Graham

said, that the committee on the bill had already closed their labours and were about to make their report, and the hearing of counsel would only protract their sitting unnecessarily.

Mr. S. Whitbread

said, he should persist in the motion, and could not help expressing a hope that the hon. member for Aberdeen would persist in his motion, for preventing any member having an interest in a private bill from sitting on a committee upon it.

Sir F. Burdett

said, it appeared to him that great injustice would be done if the petitioners were not allowed to be heard by counsel against the bill. He looked with extreme suspicion at those companies where there was a pretence of benevolence mixed up with them. There was a kind of benevolent trading about them which he did not like. Some of the original subscribers, he understood had already turned their benevolence to good account, by selling their shares at a considerable premium. He was the more induced to look at the bill with jealousy, because it was directed against a class of persons who were, in some degree, obnoxious to the public. Pawnbrokers were, he knew not why, considered as unfair traders; and it was said that they made exorbitant profits. They were placed under greater restrictions than any other class of traders; and it was absurd to talk of their making exorbitant profits, when their business was open to the competition of all; as all trades should be. Under these circumstances, he thought that the measure should be better considered before it was passed into a law.

The petitions were referred to the committee; and counsel were ordered to be heard on the report of the bill.