MR. ASSHETON CROSS,in moving that the Order for the Second Reading of the Bill be discharged, said, he wished to call attention to a matter which appeared to involve considerable hardship. The magistrates throughout the country seemed to be under the impression that the Small Penalties Act was to be put in force in every case— that, in short, they looked upon it as a matter of course that the Act should be put in force—whereas it was optional whether they should put it in force or not. There was no doubt that under this erroneous impression a great many persons had been brought under the operation of the Act who would not have boon so brought under its operation, if the magistrates had exercised their discretion in the matter.
§ MR. HOPWOODsaid, the matter-referred to by the right hon. Gentleman was a great grievance and mischief, and it was a great disappointment that there had not been time to pass the Bill. He 2092 hoped it would be re-introduced sufficiently early next Session.
§ Motion agreed to.
§ Order for Second Reading read, and discharged; Bill withdrawn.