§ Order for Second Reading read.
§ MR. HOWARD (Middlesex, Tottenham)moved that the Bill be read a second time. He explained that the Bill was of a non-contentious character, and its object was to place Middlesex in the same position with regard to the granting of these licences as other districts outside a radius of 20 miles from London. Under the law as it at present stood the County Council could not give licences except at the annual meeting in November, which very often led to considerable inconvenience. The Bill proposed to incorporate the provisions of the Public Health Act, 1890, Part IV., and to apply them to Middlesex. Under these provisions licences could be granted at any time, the only alteration being that in Middlesex the Licensing Authority was the. County Council, whilst in the districts 20 miles outside London it was the Justices. It was proposed by the Bill to continue the County Council of Middlesex as the Licensing Authority. The passing of this measure would be a great convenience to the Licensing Committee of the County Council, and would facilitate very much the administration 1377 of the law. He therefore begged to move that the Bill be read a second time
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Bill be now read a second time."—[Mr. Howard.)
THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. GEORGE RUSSELL, North Beds.)said, there was no objection on the part of the Home Office to this Bill, which would be a salutary addition to the disciplinary powers of the Middlesex County Council.
§ Motion agreed to.
§ Bill read a second time, and committed for Wednesday next.