HC Deb 17 July 1893 vol 14 cc1790-1

Bill considered in Committee.

(In the Committee.)

Clauses agreed to.

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Bill be reported to the House."

MR. BROMLEY-DAVENPORT (Cheshire, Macclesfield)

considered that some explanation should be given as to the object and scope of the Bill.

THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. H. GLADSTONE, Leeds, W.)

said, the Bill had been before the House for a considerable time. The Government had put down a number of Amendments to it; the Bill had been re-committed, and these Amendments had all been accepted and included in the Bill.

MR. T. W. RUSSELL

observed that, although it was true that the Bill had been before the House for a long time, no human being had ever explained what the Bill intended to do. He was exceedingly anxious that the Member for Northampton, who was in charge of the Bill, should give some explanation of its object.

MR. LABOUCHERE (Northampton)

said, it would be a perfect labour of love for him to explain the Bill. It had been so long before the House that he thought all Members had read and digested it. The Bill was brought in in the last Parliament by Sir John Colomb, and it was supported by several gentlemen on the other side. Sir John Colomb not having a seat in the present Parliament, and his (Mr. Labouchere's) name being on the back of the Bill, a deputation of the sweeps waited upon him and asked him to take charge of the measure. The Bill was really very simple. There was at present a system of registration in regard to sweeps, and the Bill proposed to enlarge that system of registration a little, and bring it into proper order. The objection of the sweeps was that there were good sweeps and bad sweeps; and it sometimes happened that persons blackened their faces and, pretending to belong to that respectable calling, went to houses in the early hours of the morning, rung the bell, and, having gained admittance, possibly they stole things. The object of the Bill was to render this respectable and honourable calling, if possible, even more respectable than it was. There had been much consultation on the subject with which the Bill dealt; it had, he believed, been thrashed out; and, in his opinion, it was a measure which the House would be proud of having passed.

Motion agreed to.

Bill reported, without Amendment; read the third time, and passed.