SECOND READING. (Hansard, 22 March 1866)

§ LORD CLARENCE PAGET
, in moving the second reading of this measure, explained that it was intended to renew an Act passed in 1864 for the health of our soldiers and sailors in the various ports, with additional powers recommended by 815 a Committee of medical men. It was proposed to refer the Bill to a Select Committee.

MR. HENLEY
said the measure was a very queer Bill upon a very queer subject. Its object was to preserve the health of Her Majesty's troops, and its endeavour was to remove all the penalties which a higher Power bad imposed upon sin, and to give the opportunity of sin without the punishment. He must appeal to the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether they could expect any blessing upon their legislation if they took these unhappy women, freed them from disease, and then turned them loose to follow the same wretched courses, without any attempt to reclaim them. Inspectors were to be appointed for their bodies, but it was not proposed to take any advantage of the opportunity afforded by the curing of disease to induce them to lead a better life on their discharge. The principle of the measure had been in operation since the middle of 1864, but its effect did not appear to have been very satisfactory, for in the last Report on the navy the medical gentlemen made the following note:—"Little or no diminution of disease in the home ports on account of this legislation." He regarded this legislation as vicious if unaccompanied by any attempt at reclamation, and he hoped the right hon. Gentleman would introduce in Committee provisions with that object.

§ MR. AYRTON
said, his objections to the measure were still stronger than on the introduction of the original Act. Even in France a flimsy veil was thrown over these proceedings, by the suggestion of something being done to reclaim these unhappy creatures; but in this country the Government assumed no cloak of decency or morality by proposing anything for their benefit. It was simply a Bill for keeping public women at the public expense for the gratification of our soldiers and sailors. No useful or moral end was intended, the end in view being vice—unmitigated vice—the administration of the army and navy being so inefficient, that Government was obliged to propose this Bill for the sustentation of vice. Such a proposal was a disgrace to the country, and if the Bill passed he should regard it as his duty, when addressing a popular audience, to tell them that taxes were wrung from them for the 816 purpose of maintaining vice for the gratification of the army and navy. The Chancellor of the Exchequer would assume a heavy responsibility if he allowed the Bill to pass into law, and he (Mr. Ayrton) hoped that if it went to a Committee composed of civilians, they would take a proper view of it, and that the House would never hear of it again.

§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER
said, that it was hardly possible this subject could be discussed then with the fulness which would he desirable. His noble Friend, in proposing the second reading of the Bill, had merely proposed the continuation of a system which had received the sanction of Parliament. Neither his noble Friend nor Her Majesty's Government was desirous of flinching from a full consideration of the numerous difficulties by which this matter was surrounded; and the noble Lord had announced bis intention, at the proper time, to propose that the Bill be referred to a Select Committee. It would be desirable that those gentlemen who had charged themselves with the painful duty of looking into this question should serve on that Committee. The object of the Government was to have all the assistance on the subject which the intelligence and impartial judgment of Parliament could afford. They wished the matter to be examined free from prejudice of any kind. He therefore, hoped there would be no objection to having the Bill read a second time.