HC Deb 20 June 1892 vol 5 cc1640-1

SECOND READING.

Order for Second Reading road.

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Bill be now read a second time."

MR. MORTON (Peterborough)

I should like to ask the meaning of this Bill. I am always suspicious of anything that comes from the House of Lords, especially when they are in a hurry, and especially when they adjourn without any reason, as they did last week.

* MR. SPEAKER

Order, order! I must remind the hon. Member that he is not entitled to speak of the other branch of the Legislature in those terms.

MR. MORTON

Very well, Sir, but I hope the hon. and learned Gentleman (Sir Richard Webster) will give us some explanation of this Bill. In the Schedule at the end I see an Act for the punishment of idle and disorderly persons, for the suppression of certain games, and so forth. It may be all very well, but what is the meaning of it? I should say it ought to have gone to a Select Committee, so that we might know that the matter had been looked into by the proper persons. If the Government say they have looked into it that would be something.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Sir RICHARD WEBSTER,) Isle of Wight

The matter has been carefully investigated by those whom the hon. Gentle- man calls the proper persons. Under a number of existing Acts, the periods of time for notice of action vary very much, and the object of this Bill is to reduce the period of notice in all the Acts in the Schedule to one period. Nothing is done beyond that with regard to the Acts in the Schedule, and the Bill is simply a Consolidation Bill to simplify the law.

Motion agreed to.

Bill read a second time, and committed for To-morrow.