SECOND READING. (Hansard, 18 July 1879)

§ MR. SERJEANT SPINKS

, in moving that the Bill be now read a second time, said, he should make his speech as short as possible. He might state that there had long been a disposition on the part of the Legislature to discourage the sale of spirituous liquors on credit in small quantities, for no less than five Acts had been passed with respect to that description of drinking. The main object of this 1184 Bill was to consolidate the law upon that subject. It had also to be observed that the prohibitions with respect to sales upon credit of drink were different in the three Kingdoms. Another object of this Bill was, therefore, to make the law the same in all three countries; it was also the object of the Bill to extend the provisions of the Act to certain liquors not now subject to this law. The law, as it stood at present, might be shortly described as follows:—By an Act of 24 Geo. II. provision was made with regard to spirituous liquors, and that Act was amended by a Statute passed in the present Reign, and the effect of the two was that no action could be brought to recover the price of spirituous liquors sold of any less value than the amount of 20s., or any less quantity than a reputed quart, to be delivered at the purchaser's house. This Act applied to Scotland as well as to England; but its operation did not extend to Ireland. The Act that applied to Ireland was the 55th Geo. III. c. 104, by which it was provided that no action should be brought to recover the price of spirits sold on credit, unless the quantity sold amounted to two quarts, and that quantity was delivered at the purchaser's residence. By the Act of 1867, applicable to England alone, it was provided that no action should be brought to recover the price of beer supplied to be consumed on the premises, whatever the value or whatever the quantity. The Acts he had mentioned did not in any way apply to some other liquors which were provided for by the present Bill. This Bill provided that no action should be brought to recover the value of any spirits, wine, beer, cider, and other drinks, unless the quantity sold should amount in value to 20s., or in amount to a reputed quart, to be supplied at the purchaser's residence. There were also provisions in this Bill which were contained in some of the other Acts, and amongst them he might mention a proviso by which nothing was to be taken by way of pledge for drink sold. This provision was extended by the Bill to monies lent to be paid for drink and securities given for drink. There was also a provision contained in one of the former Acts relating to Ireland, which was not to be found in any English Bill, which prevented the paying of wages in a public house, and 1185 that provision was contained in the present Bill, and was made applicable to England and Scotland. He begged to move the second reading of the measure.