Lords Sitting of 7 August 1872

MINUTES.
PUBLIC BILLS—First Reading—Expiring Laws Continuance * (293); Union Officers (Ireland) Superannuation * (294).
Second Reading—Revising Barristers (289).
Committee—Report—Attorneys and Solicitors Act (1860) Amendment * (285); Income Tax Collection, Public Departments (No. 2) * (283); Turnpike Acts Continuance, &c. * (282); Pensions
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Commutation Act (1871) Extension* (284).
Report—Pawnbrokers* (292).
Third Reading—Parish Constables Abolition, now Parish Constables * (280); Kensington Station and North and South London Junction Railway Act, 1859 (Repayment of Moneys) * (276); Greenwich Hospital * (273); Military Forces Localisation (Expenses)* (278); Public Health (279); Law Officers (England) Fees* (254); Municipal Corporations (Borough Funds)* (264); Public Works Loan Commissioners (School Boards Loans) * (274); Turnpike Trusts Arrangements* (275); Merchant Shipping and Passenger Acts Amendment * (281), and passed.

PUBLIC HEALTH BILL—(No. 279.)
(The Lord President.)
PUBLIC HEALTH BILL—(No. 279.)

  THIRD READING.
  Order of the Day for the Third Reading, read.
  LORD BUCKHURSTsaid, he thought it a most unfortunate thing that a Bill of such great importance as that should pass through their Lordships' House without any discussion on any one of its provisions. He could not but think that the public interests would have been much better consulted if a measure of such moment had been brought under the consideration of their Lordships at an earlier period; neither could he see why a measure of this kind should not have originated in their Lordships' House. A sanitary Bill was one on which there ought to be some discussion; but on the eve of the Prorogation the discussion of such a measure was impossible.
  LORD REDESDALEconcurred with the noble Lord who had just spoken. This important Bill had been only three days in their Lordships' House, having been brought up and read a first time on Saturday last. It was impossible to consider a Bill of such importance in so short a time; and he would ask the noble Marquess whether he would dare to treat the House of Commons in this way?
  THE MARQUESS OF RIPONsaid, that the measure was not under any circumstances likely to have given rise to much discussion, because it did not effect any change in the sanitary laws, but merely consolidated the authorities charged with their administration. Moreover, in answer to the noble Lord (Lord Buckhurst), he must say that several important Bills had been originated in their Lordships' House this Session, and the fate of one of them? the Inclosure

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  Bill, was not such as to encourage the Government to originate measures in that House. The last remark of the noble Lord (Lord Redesdale) was misplaced, because the House of Commons had not had much more time to consider the Licensing Bill, on which it was at present engaged.
  LORD REDESDALE: But that is not the fault of this House. The Bill was sent down a long time ago.
  Moved, "That the Bill be now read 3a."—(The Lord President.)
  Motion agreed to; Bill read 3a".
  Amendments made.
  On Motion, "That the Bill do pass,"
  LORD REDESDALEsaid, he must repeat his opinion that some longer time than three days at the end of the Session ought to have been allowed their Lordships for dealing with a Sanitary Bill.
  THE MARQUESS OF RIPONsaid, that the Bill did not increase the sanitary powers conferred by existing Acts. All it did was to vest their administration in one authority in each town or rural district.
  Motion agreed to; Bill passed, and sent to the Commons.

REVISING BARRISTERS BILL—(No. 289.)
(The Lord Chancellor.)
REVISING BARRISTERS BILL—(No. 289.)

  SECOND READING.
  Order of the Day for the Second Reading, read.
  THE LORD CHANCELLOR, in moving that the Bill be now read the second time, said, its first object was to provide that no barrister under seven years' standing should be eligible for the office of revising barrister. At present only a standing of three years was required. The second object was to limit the power of the Judges on circuit to appoint additional revising barristers to cases of "a want of sufficiency" of revising barristers. It had been expected that the Bill would have become law before the Summer Circuits of 1872, and therefore the date 1872 had been inserted in the Bill. It would, therefore, be necessary to alter this to 1873, in order that the Bill might not be retrospective.
  Motion agreed to; Bill read 2a accordingly; Committee negatived; and Bill to be read 3a To-morrow.
  House adjourned at a quarter before Six o'clock, till To-morrow, a quarter before Five o'clock.