§ Lords Amendments considered.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYI think some of the Amendments inserted in the other House constitute a rather large order, and it is a serious thing to ask the House to consider them at this hour of the morning. It seems to me that this legislation will infringe the rights of the colonies. It is sought to be provided that people in the colonies offending under this Bill shall be brought to the Central Criminal Court .for trial. Why, this is the very thing that the American Colonies revolted against. Surely this question requires further consideration.
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Sir R. WEBSTER,) Isle of WightI think the operation of the Bill will be exactly contrary to what the hon. Member suggests. As the Bill left this House it applied absolutely to all the Colonies, and it was thought it might be regarded as interfering with the self-governing Colonies. Hence power was given to Her Majesty to suspend the operation of the Bill in the event of a Colony making provision for dealing with offences of this nature. As to the trial of cases at the Central Criminal Court, the Bill only provides that where a person from the Colonies charged under the Act happens to be in England there shall be power to try the case at the Central Criminal Court. It is not intended that offenders shall be specially brought over here for trial.
§ Amendments agreed to.
§ Clause 6.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYI have an Amendment to move on this clause, and I understand the Government do not object to it. It is to insert words to the effect that the provisions of the Criminal Law Procedure (Ireland) Act shall not apply to trials arising under this Act.
§
Amendment proposed, Clause 6, Subsection 4, to insert—
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The provisions of the Criminal Law and Procedure (Ireland) Act, 1887, shall not apply to any trial under the provisions of this Act,
§ Amendment agreed to.
§ Lords' Amendments, as amended, agreed to.