§ Order for Second Reading read.
§ MR. HIBBERTsaid, that this Bill had been on two former occasions before the other House; and inasmuch as it was simply a Consolidation Bill, which did not in any way alter the existing law, he had no hesitation in asking the House to allow it to be read a second time. In a measure of this kind there were always some small Amendments which it might be desirable to introduce; and therefore, with the permission of the House, he proposed to commit the Bill on that day week, so as to give time for placing Amendments on the Notice 2033 Paper. At the same time, he wished it to be understood that he was not prepared in any way to assent to Amendments which struck at the principle of the measure. If the Bill passed, it would supersede 69 existing Acts of Parliament, and would be of great assistance to Municipal Corporations, inasmuch as it compressed into one Statute all the laws with which they were specially concerned. He wished to observe that the Bill had been most carefully and judiciously framed by the draftsman, who had worked upon it during the last two years, and who, he thought, deserved great credit for the pains bestowed upon it.
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Bill be now read a second time."—(Mr. Hibbert.)
§ Question, put, and agreed to.
§ Bill read a second time, and committed for Thursday next.