THE MARQUESS TOWNSHEND,in moving that the Bill be now read the second time, referred, in justification of the course he had taken in introducing these Bills, to his attempts in former Sessions to secure their Lordships' consideration for subjects which otherwise would have passed unnoticed. Among the measures he had introduced on previous occasions was one to repress what was now popularly known as "baby farming." He was not aware that the 1594 Government had resolved to take steps to remove this blot on our civilization, but, after the revelations that were taking place day by day in the public journals, it was impossible to deny the extent to which the murder of helpless infants was carried on. He had also endeavoured to provide protection for girls under 16 years of age from an unfortunate course of life, and a Parliamentary Committee had since reported in the same sense. Every day's experience confirmed his opinion of the necessity of legislation on these and kindred subjects. The present Bill enacted by the 1st clause, that the birch-rod only shall be used in punishing persons under 16 years age; the 2nd made it illegal to strike a child on the head or face, a practice on the part of schoolmasters, employers, and parents which sometimes led to fatal results. He was aware that any injury inflicted on a child was punishable as a common assault; but it was desirable that this particular practice should be specially forbidden by law. By the 3rd clause, masters or mistresses were forbidden to strike or to administer corporal punishment to any apprentice, servant, or person in their employ. The penalty for these offences was a fine of £5, and in default of payment two months' imprisonment.
Moved, "That the Bill be now read 2a."—(The Marquess Townshend.)
THE EARL OF MORLEYsaid, that as he sympathized with the good intentions of the noble Marquess in bringing forward this Bill and the one which followed it, he regretted that it had fallen to his lot to appear to thwart his object. Last year a precisely similar Bill to the present was brought in, and what then took place certainly afforded no encouragement to bring the matter forward again after so short an interval. The opinion of the Government, and he believed that of their Lordships, was not in favour of legislation upon matters of such a trivial and minute character. He hoped, under the circumstances, that the noble Marquess would not press either of his measures.
Order for the Second Reading discharged, and Bill (by leave of the House) withdrawn.