§ Order for Second Reading read.
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Bill be now read a second time."—(Mr. Mark Stewart.)
1354§ MR. ONSLOWsaid, he objected very strongly to Bills like this one being brought forward by private Members. If this question of the licensing law was to be taken up at all, it should be taken up as a whole by the Government of the day. None of them knew anything of what this Bill proposed to do, and they had had no explanation of it. The right hon. Gentleman who represented the Home Office was not present; and yet they were asked, on the mere ipse dixit of the right hon. Gentleman, to read this Bill a second time. As a mere matter of protesting against such proceedings, he should go to a Division. He therefore moved the adjournment of the debate.
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Debate be now adjourned."—(Mr. Onslow.)
§ MR MARK STEWARTsaid, he did not think it necessary to go into any detailed explanation of this Bill, for its principle had already been before the House in the English measure from which it was copied. It consisted of only one clause of importance, and that required that when a new certificate was applied for the licensing authority should take into consideration the character of the population and the circumstances of the neighbourhood, and should insist upon a requisition being placed before them, to enable them to decide whether the licence was really wanted or not, and should examine witnesses on oath. The provisions were very simple, and he did not think he need detain the House further.
§ Question put.
§ The House divided:—Ayes 12; Noes 43: Majority 31.—(Div. List, No. 76.)
§ Main Question put, and agreed to.