§ Order for Second Reading read.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH) (Bristol, W.), in moving that the Bill be now read a second time, in order that it might be sent to the Standing Committee on Trade, said, that the measure was the outcome of a debate initiated by his hon. Friend the Member for East Norfolk (Sir Edward Birkbeck) early in the Session, when a very general desire was expressed for the constitution of local tribunals upon which the fishing interest would be represented, with powers to frame bye-laws for the regu- 1880 lation of the fisheries, and also for the prevention of trawling, if necessary, for the application of the Oyster Fisheries Acts, and also for preventing refuse being thrown into the sea, to the injury of the fisheries. The bye-laws would require the sanction of the Board of Trade. He hoped the House would consent to read the Bill a second time, so that it might be fully considered by the Standing Committee.
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Bill be now read a second time.—(Sir Michael Hicks-Beach.)
§ MR. MUNDELLA, in supporting the appeal of the right hon. Gentleman opposite (Sir Michael Hicks-Beach), said, he did so because the measure affected a very large class of hard-working and industrious men, and would carry out some of the recommendations of the Railway Commission on the subject. As the Standing Committee would not sit much longer, it was desirable that the Bill should be read a second time at once.
§ MR. J. C. STEVENSON (South Shields)said, he saw that enormous powers were given by the Bill to the Board of Trade, to whom Parliament was delegating its authority. He did not object to its being sent to the Grand Committee on Trade; but he hoped the Committee would give it great consideration, and carefully scrutinize the powers he had referred to.
§ MR. ROWNTREE (Scarborough)said, he also supported the appeal of the right hon. Gentleman, and thought that it would be an act of great injustice if an attempt was not made to pass an Act that Session.
§ MR. ESSLEMONT (Aberdeen, E.)asked, if the Bill applied to the whole country?
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACHsaid, that, as the hon. Member was aware, the fisheries in Scotland and Ireland were under different authorities. This was only an English Bill.
§ Question put, and agreed to.
§ Bill read a second time, and committed to the Standing Committee on Trade, &c.