§ The House went into Committee on this Bill, and resumed the consideration of Mr. E. Pickersgill's new Clause, dealing with illegal distress, the Debate on which was adjourned on April 8.
§ Clause agreed to and added to the Bill.
§
MR. H. D. GREENE (Shrewsbury) moved the following new Clause:—
In any proceeding against any person for an offence under this Act, such person shall be competent, but not compellable, to give evidence, and the wife of such person may be required to attend to give evidence as an ordinary witness in the case, and shall be competent, hut not compellable, to give evidence.
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Sir R. T. REID, Dundee)explained that this was a clause which was very commonly added to Bills nowadays, in order to enable a person charged with an offence under a particular Statute to give evidence on his own behalf.
§ Clause agreed to, and added to the Bill.
§ The Bill, as amended, reported.