§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir M. W. RIDLEY, Lancashire, N., Blackpool)moved for leave to bring in a Bill to amend the Vagrancy Act of 1824.
§ MR. E. H. PICKERSGILL (Bethnal Green, S.W.)said he would be glad if the right hon. Member would indicate the object of the Bill, and he also desired to call attention to the fact that under one of the sections of the Vagrancy Act of 1821 there was a power to order persons who 1538 were known to be incorrigible rogues to be flogged, and there were instances where the power had been recently exercised. He desired to know whether the right hon. Gentleman proposed to deal with that matter in this Bill he asked leave to bring in?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENTsaid that it was intended for the purpose of bringing under the operation of the Vagrancy Act, 1824, as rogues and vagabonds, those men who lived by the disgraceful earnings of the women whom they consorted with and controlled. Against these enemies of society, commonly called "bullies," a Bill had already been introduced by an hon. Member; but it was open to considerable objection, which this Bill avoided. The question had been much pressed upon him during the last few months, and, as the present Measure was very short and simple, he hoped that the House would give to it a favourable consideration.
§ Bill brought up and read a first time.