§ Order for Second Reading read.
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Bill be now read a second time."
§ *(6.33.) MR. BARCLAYI wish to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether petitioners will be heard individually by the Committee, or whether they will have to appear by counsel?
§ *SIR M. HICKS BEACHIn the ordinary way.
§ *MR. BARCLAYWhy should not a petitioner be entitled to state his own case? An individual trader would have to incur enormous expense if he appeared by counsel.
§ *SIR M. HICKS BEACHPetitioners will have precisely the same right as they have before an ordinary private Committee of this House.
§ *(6.34) SIR J. SWINBURNE (Staffordshire, Lichfield)This is an important matter. Will the right hon. 423 Gentleman state whether individual traders will be able to state their ease before the Committee or not?
§ *SIR M. HICKS BEACHI do not know whether the hon. Gentleman has ever sat on a Private Bill Committee, but the same course will be pursued before this Committee as before an ordinary Private Bill Committee.
§ Question put, and agreed to.
§ Bill read second time, and committed.