§ Not amended (in the Standing Committee) considered.
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Bill be now read the Third time".
§ Captain GARRO-JONESThis Bill ought not to be allowed to pass without some observations on certain features in it. Clause 2 gives the Minister a clear discretion in the case of no fewer than three Acts of Parliament, where previously he had only a limited discretion. That is bad enough but in Subsection (4) of Clause I we find that the Minister may by order declare that the provisions of this measure are not to apply as respects any market, fair or mart. I wish to protest against this system of government by Order in Council. I have never seen a more blatent example than this Bill, which is the kind of Bill one would expect to originate in another place. Clause 1 has been drafted, presumably, not without due reason but Sub-section (4) gives the Minister the power, either to put it into effect or not as he thinks fit. That practice has been going on for a long time but it has never been more blatant or disgraceful than in this Bill. In spite of the fact, that hon. Members opposite are expected to support the Government of the day in whatever they do, I hope a few will be found to protest against in- 582 fringements of this kind on the rights of the people.