§ THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL,in moving the Second Reading of this Bill, said it was to put an end to an abuse which had been going on for some years. Certain persons went from Court to Court issuing vexatious process against the Lord Chancellor, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and other public men. The Bill provided that if a person did this habitually the Court might, on the authority of the Attorney General, make an order to restrain the proceedings.
MR. T. M. HEALYsaid that no doubt a great abuse existed, but it was connected with one person, who would not live for ever. [The ATTORNEY GENERAL, "No, not only one person."] It was a strong order to restrict the right of the subject to bring actions, and he suggested that the operation of the Bill should be restricted to five years, and that after that, if it were desirable, the Act should be renewed in the Expiring Laws Continuance Bill.
§ THE ATTORNEY-GENERALsaid that he could not promise to accept the suggestion, but he would consider it before Report.
§ Bill read a Second time, and committed for Monday.