§ * MR. HANBURYasked leave to bring in two Bills to consolidate the law relating to friendly and other societies. He said he certainly would not proceed with the Bills if there was any serious opposition to them. He might mention that the conference of friendly societies and the Oddfellows had expressed a strong desire that such Measures should be passed. They were simply and solely Consolidating Bills—there was absolutely nothing else in them. The state of the law with regard to friendly societies was extremely difficult to follow, and if there was a class who ought to have their laws clear and intelligible to them it was those who were in these friendly societies. The Bills would not occupy the time of the House for long, because they would, in the ordinary course, be referred to the Joint Committee of the two Houses which deals with Consolidation Bills of this kind. He hoped, therefore, he should have the permission of the House to bring them in.
§ DR. TANNER (Cork Co., Mid)asked if these Bills were to be introduced always after 12 o'clock at night—at a time when no discussion could possibly take place. He hoped, if these Measures were to be of any value, they would be introduced at a proper time.
Bill ordered to be brought in by Mr. Hanbury and the Chancellor of the Exchequer; presented accordingly, and read the First time; to be read a Second time upon Thursday, and to be printed—[Bill 275.]