SECOND READING. (Hansard, 19 February 1884)

§ MR. WARTON
said, that, in regard to this Bill, he hoped that those who promoted it would give a little more time for the consideration of it. He was given to understand that the people of Leicester were very much dissatisfied with it, and especially with one provision, which would interfere very materially with their comfort and wishes. The Bill was an Omnibus Bill, comprising a great number of clauses, and he was not quite sure that some of them would not come within the line drawn by the hon. and learned Member for Stockport (MR. Hopwood) as very extraordinary provisions. At the present moment there was an old market in Leicester which was very much liked by those who frequented it, both buyers and sellers. It was a market for fruit and vegetables, placed in a most convenient position in the town, and the 15th clause of the Bill proposed to shift that market from High Cross to a spot where it would be much less convenient; and all the owners of property around it, and all the neighbouring tradesmen, desired to have the market kept where it now was. They alleged, further, that the experiment of removing the market was tried some time ago. The Corporation sought to establish it as a Saturday market in another part of the town; but the experiment failed, and eventually they had to bring back the market to its old position. The present Bill, which he believed not one hon. Member in 50 had read, contravened the wishes of the people of Leicester, which had been almost unanimously expressed in favour of retaining the old market where it now was. All that he wanted was to raise the question fairly. He had no wish to offer any unfair opposition to the Bill, and all he would ask for was that the debate should be adjourned 1318 until that day week, in order that the people of Leicester might make their wishes known to the House, and to take measures to secure the striking out of the obnoxious clause to which he had referred. He would, therefore, move that the debate be adjourned until that day week.

§ MR. HICKS
seconded the Motion.

§ MR. HIBBERT
said, he hoped that his hon. and learned Friend would not press the Amendment. It was intended that this Bill, like the other Bills mentioned, should go to a Hybrid Committee. In point of fact, this was one of the Bills which it was proposed to send to the Hybrid Committee.

§ MR. WARTON
begged the hon. Member's pardon. He had understood the hon. and learned Member for Stockport (MR. Hopwood) to say that this was a Bill which would not be referred to the Hybrid Committee.

§ MR. HIBBERT
said, the hon. and learned Member (MR. Warton) was labouring under a mistake. It was intended to send the Leicester Corporation Bill to the Hybrid Committee, as well as the other Corporation Bills; and upon that ground he hoped the hon. and learned Member would not persist in his Amendment.

§ MR. HOPWOOD
wished to say a word in the way of explanation. What he had said was that, so far as he was concerned, Notice of opposition had been given to the Leicester Bill in error; but he had further stated that whether that Bill would be referred with the others to the Select Committee or not would rest with the Government.