§ Order for the Second Reading read.
§ Motion made, and Question proposed "That the Bill be now read a second time."—(Mr. Churchill.)
§ MR. AKERS-DOUGLASasked whether they were to have no explanation at all. He wanted to know whether the Bill had been before a Select Committee or the Law Officers of the Crown. There were a large number of clauses in the Bill, and he would like to get an assurance on that point.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. CHURCHILL,) Dundeesaid the Bill was simply a consolidation Bill, reproducing the law at present expressed in eighteen different statutes. It had been considered by a Joint Committee of a most representative and authoritative character.
§ Question put, and agreed to.
§ Bill read a second time, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House for To-morrow.—(Mr. Churchill)