Lord Broughammoved, that the House do resolve itself into a Committee on the Documentary Evidence Bill. The noble and learned Lord explained the state of the existing law respecting documentary evidence, and the defects which the Bill was intended to remedy. Railway Bills had introduced sundry anomalies in this branch of the law; and whilst providing for the admission of documentary evidence, omitted to attach penalties in cases of fraud. The Great Western Railway Company had obtained the insertion of a clause stating that—
Whereas, the books of the Company were by law evidence against them, it was very expedient that they should be also evidence for them.It therefore enacted, that, with respect to all questions of rate, the entries in the books of the Company should be evidence for the Company of all matters contained in them. The Bill corrected all these anomalies, and made it forgery to counterfeit certificates of documents. There was likewise a clause to enable the Journals of either House of Parliament to be given in evidence. The noble Lord concluded by moving that the Bill be committed, in order that when the Report should be brought up, he might propose his Amendments, and have the Bill reprinted, and afterwards recommitted.
The Lord Chancellorhighly approved of the suggestion of his noble and learned Friend with respect to constituting the printed Journals of their Lordships House legal evidence in a court of justice, and agreed entirely in the proposal to introduce a clause to that effect into the Bill.
Lord Campbellhighly approved of the Bill. It would simplify the proceedings save expense, and prevent anomalies
§ House in Committee. Bill reported without Amendment. Amendments made.