§ Order for Second Beading read.
§ MR. HIBBERT, in moving that the Bill be now read a second time, said, he desired to make but few observations. The Bill had been put down nearly every night since the commencement of the Session; but, owing to the opposition of the hon. and learned Gentleman the Member for Bridport (Mr. Warton), he 640 had not been able to obtain a second reading before this. the Bill, which he believed was not opposed by anyone in the House except by the hon. and learned Member, merely sought to repeal a number of portions of obsolete Acts, and to carry out what his right hon. Friend the late Home Secretary (Sir R. Assheton Cross) intended to carry out when he passed the Summary Jurisdiction Bill of 1879. The Bill was approved by the Lord Chancellor, and other Law Lords; and, therefore, he (Mr. Hibbert) trusted he would now be allowed to take the second reading.
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Bill be now read a second time."—(Mr. Hibbert.)
§ MR. WARTONsaid, he might be the only person who had put a block to the Bill; but he had done so in the interest of the ratepayer, who might find his position materially altered with regard to the collection of the poor rates. He had received a letter from the Vestry Clerk of St. Mary's, Islington, in which it was stated that it was feared the Bill would lead to great difficulty in the collection of rates. It appeared to him (Mr. Warton) that the Bill was open to very serious objection. As many as 146 Acts were dealt with by the measure; and, therefore, he hoped the hon. Gentleman would consent to refer the Bill to a Select Committee.
§ MR. HIBBERTsaid, that those who had fully considered the Bill did not agree with the view taken by the rate-paying authorities; but he was quite prepared to remove any doubts by Amendments. As to the suggestion to refer the Bill to a Select Committee, he had proposed that some time ago; but really, considering the pressure of hon. Members in Committees at the present time, he should scarcely like to suggest it now. If hon. Members had any Amendments to propose he should be glad to consider them, and try to come to an arrangement with the House.
§ MR. WARTONwanted to point out—
§ MR. SPEAKERI must remind the hon. and learned Member that he is not entitled to make a second speech.
§ MR. WARTONVery good, Sir. I was going to speak on another point.
§ MR. TOMLINSONsaid, with regard to matters of detail connected with 641 the Bill, there were several points that would arise in dealing with it which would require careful consideration; and he, therefore, could not help thinking that the Bill should be referred to a Select Committee. He would ask the hon. Gentleman opposite (Mr. Hibbert) to reconsider his decision in the matter.
§ Motion agreed to.
§ Bill read a second time, and committed for Monday next.
§ MR. WARTONCould it not be put down to a later date, to consider the question of referring it to a Select Committee?