HL Deb 13 July 1869 vol 197 cc1749-50

Order of the Day for the Second Reading, read.

THE LORD CHANCELLOR

, in moving that the Bill be now read a second time, said, he had had considerable inquiry made into the matter, and he was satisfied that it was necessary a Bill of this kind should be passed. It had not been introduced into the other House by the Government, but the able Master of the Court of Exchequer had been requested to examine it carefully, and he reported that the grievance sought to be redressed was a real one. By an Act of Charles II., and another of William III., no person was allowed to be appointed to take special bail in the country who was an attorney or a solicitor. This might be proper at one time, but now, in consequence of changes in the law, the cases of special bail were so few that it was not worth any person's while to take the office who was not an attorney or solicitor, and no one was appointed; so that in the few cases where special bail was required persons were put to the inconvenience of coming up to London for the purpose. The Bill empowered anyone authorized to administer an oath, whether he was a solicitor or not, provided he were not interested in the matter, to take special bail.

Motion agreed to; Bill read 2a accordingly, and committed to a Committee of the whole House on Tuesday next.