LEAVE. FIRST READING. (Hansard, 10 February 1863)

§ SIR GEORGE BOWYER
said, he rose to move for leave to introduce a Bill to amend the law regarding the jurisdiction and authority exercised by the Benchers of the four Inns of Court in England in certain cases. The provisions of the Bill were precisely the same as those of that he introduced last Session. He would not go into its merits, or the reasons upon which it was founded, but he would only remind the House that his first Bill of last year was divided into two parts. The first part had reference to a reform of the constitution of the Inns of Court themselves; while the object of the second part was to institute a proper tribunal for the consideration of certain cases which came within the jurisdiction of the Benchers of the Inns of Court. There was considerable difference of opinion regarding the first part of the Bill. But it was thought by many that something ought to be done 225 on the subject touched by the second part of the Bill, and he therefore consented that the Bill should be negatived in order that he might bring in another Bill which should be confined to the question of the Amendment of the Law in regard to the jurisdiction exercised by the Benchers of the Inns of Court in certain cases. That Bill was printed, and had no doubt been well considered during the vacation by those whom it concerned. What he proposed to do was to bring in that Bill again; and should leave be granted, he would give ample time to the Benchers to consider it, and he should be happy to receive any suggestions for the improvement of the measure. He thought public opinion was almost unanimous that something should be done on the subject. On the second reading of the Bill he would make a statement to the House of the details of the measure and the reasons upon which it was founded, and he hoped they would have such a discussion as would end in useful legislation.

THE SOLICITOR GENERAL
said, he did not rise to offer any opposition to the Motion of the hon. and learned Baronet, but to state, that in the event of any other measure being introduced on the subject by the Benchers of the Inns of Court, who had at present vested in them this jurisdiction, it would be understood that both the Government and private Members would be at liberty to adopt their proposal, whether in a substantive form or by way of Amendment to the Bill. The subject was no doubt one of great importance, and he was at liberty to state to the House that it had received the attention of the Benchers of the Inns of Court, that communications had taken place between them and the Government, and that he was not without hope that the result would be the adoption of some measure which might be recommended to the House by their unanimous assent. Those communications had not yet advanced far enough to enable him to say whether such would be their result; but if anything were done, his hon. and learned Friend would have early information of it, and he hoped that the second reading of this Bill would not be pressed on so as to interfere with the deliberations of the Societies upon the subject.

§ SIR FITZROY KELLY
said, the observations of the hon. and learned Baronet led him to suggest that some understanding should be come to as to the period at which the Bill should be read a second 226 time. They were within a fortnight or so of the circuits, when many of the hon. and learned Members of the House would be out of town, and he hoped the hon. and learned Baronet would not bring on the second reading until after the assizes were over. It would be desirable that the Bill of the Benchers of the Inns of Court should be before the House before the second reading of this Bill.