§ LORD CHELMSFORD moved that the Bill he now read a second time.
§ THE DUKE OF NEWCASTLEsaid, the noble Lord would doubtless agree with him that with regard to a measure which had already excited considerable public interest, it was most unadvisable that there should appear to be any intention of passing it without affording ample time for consideration to those who would be affected by its details. He would therefore suggest that, following a course which was sometimes adopted, the second reading should now be taken pro formâ, with the understanding that the Committee on the Bill should be fixed for some future day, when, if necessary, the principle on which it was founded would be open to consideration.
§ LORD CHELMSFORDwillingly agreed with the suggestion, and consented to postpone the Committee on the Bill until after Easter. His only anxiety was to pass such a Bill as would be likely to prove valuable.
EARL ST. GERMANS, as a Member of the Committee which had sat in 1850, recommended the perusal of the important evidence taken at that time to the noble Lord by whom the Bill had been introduced. He also took the liberty of suggesting that he should place himself in communication with Sir Richard Mayne and some of the metropolitan magistrates who administered justice in districts where Sunday trading most largely prevailed. If his noble and learned Friend would adopt this course he thought he would be enabled very materially to improve his measure.
§ Bill read 2a.
§ House adjourned at Half-past Seven o'clock, till To-morrow, Half-past Ten o'clock.