§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading, read.
930§ LORD PENZANCE, in moving that the Bill be now read the second time, said, that in the present state of the law, in the case of a debtor owing not less than £50 he could be made a bankrupt; but he must first receive a debtor summons which, in the case of a trader, was not returnable until the expiry of seven days, and, in the case of a non-trader, 21 days. This gave ample opportunity for a dishonest debtor to abscond, and the laws now in force for the arrest of such absconding debtors were insufficient. It was to put an end to this state of this state of things that the present Bill was introduced, and though the machinery was cumbrous, yet if their Lordships chose to read the Bill a second time, the machinery might be simplified in Committee.
§ Moved, "That the Bill be now read 2a."—(The Lord Penzance.)
THE LORD CHANCELLORsaid, he did not intend to oppose the second reading of the Bill; but it was a measure which would require very grave consideration before their Lordships assented to it. The Bill was far too coercive in its present shape, and gave very great power to one creditor who wished to obtain an advantage over the others. There were many difficulties in the measure; but possibly his noble and learned Friend might be able to meet them when the Bill was considered in Committee.
§ Motion agreed to; Bill read 2a and committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Thursday next.