§ Order for Second Reading read.
§ MR. MONK, in moving that the Bill be now read a second time, said, he could not, at that late hour, enter into any explanation of its details; but he might mention that he had in its preparation consulted all the highest authorities on the Law of Partnership, including Mr. Pollock, who was the draftsman of the Bill; while the hon. and learned Gentleman the Solicitor General (Sir Farrer Herschell) had his name on the back of the Bill when it was first introduced in 1880, as well as his hon. Friend the Member for East Sussex (Mr. Gregory). The first three parts dealt with the consolidation of the existing law; other parts concerned the registration of the partners of firms, and provided for the establishment of limited partnerships, known as sociétés en com-mandite on the Continent. He had consulted his right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade on the subject, who would doubtless propose Amendments in the Bill. If the House would consent to its being read now, he would put it down for a day that would give hon. Members an opportunity of placing Amendments on the Paper. The hon. Member concluded by moving the second reading of the Bill.
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Bill be now read a second time."—(Mr. Monk.)
1356§ MR. WARTONsaid, he thought that the Bill would tend unfairly to restrict freedom of commerce rather than to promote it. He objected to the principle of publishing the names of members of firms; and he regarded the proposal to compel a commercial house to set out the amount of capital subscribed by each of its partners as a harassing one. He saw no reason, either, why Bovill's Act should be repealed as the Bill proposed. That Act was working well, and was very useful in enabling persons to invest capital in business without becoming partners. He protested against big Bills of this description being brought in this way.
§ And it being a quarter of an hour before Six of the clock, the Debate stood adjourned till To-morrow.