§ Order read, for resuming Adjourned Debate on Question [6th April], "That the Bill be now read a second time."
§ Question again proposed.
§ Debate resumed.
§ THE SOLICITOR GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. W. M. JOHNSON)said, that on one of the earlier occasions when this Bill was before the House, he pointed out several matters in which the Bill fell short, others in which it exceeded the requirements of the law, and also that it proposed to enact provisions which were already existing in the law. He had since come to the conclusion, after full consideration, that the best course would be for his hon. and learned Friend the Member for Tyrone (Mr. Litton) to withdraw the Bill, and, if he did so, he (the Solicitor General for Ireland) would undertake next Session, on the part of the Government, to bring in a Bill to amend summary procedure in those matters in which it required amendment.
§ MR. LITTONsaid, that under the circumstances, and looking at the state of Business, he did not think he would be justified in occupying the time of the House by proceeding with this Bill, especially as the hon. and learned Gentleman the Solicitor General for Ireland had so far expressed his sanction of the general principle of the Bill as to give an undertaking that next Session the Government would bring in a measure to assimilate the law in Ireland to that of England.
§ Motion, by leave, withdrawn.
§ Bill withdrawn.