HL Deb 12 March 1880 vol 251 cc907-8

Order of the Day for the House to be put into Committee, read.

Moved, "That the House do now resolve itself into Committee upon the said Bill."—(The Earl Stanhope.)

LORD ABERDARE

was understood to ask whether those persons who obtained licences under this Bill would have to apply annually for a renewal?

EARL BEAUCHAMP

said, that the Bill was not the Bill of the Government, but had been introduced into the other House of Parliament by an independent Member, and only dealt with a very small matter. The change in the law it proposed was very slight. If any Amendments were made in the Bill there might be no time to obtain the assent of the other House. [The noble Earl was understood to answer the Question of the noble Lord (Lord Aberdare) in the negative.]

THE EARL OF KIMBERLEY

said, he thought nothing was more absurd than to bring in a little Bill of this kind to make an exception to the general law. It would introduce a complete anomaly into the law; and he was surprised to see their Lordships agreeing to a Bill like this on the eve of an Election, simply because of the advantage it might give the Government in the country. There was a distinct difference between certain licences, and this Bill proposed to break down that distinction. The Bill would do very little good; but he did not think it would do any harm.

EARL STANHOPE

remarked, that the noble Earl who last spoke had stigmatized this measure as a trumpery little Bill. Then why should he make such a fuss about it?

LORD DENMAN

said, that the front Opposition Bench seemed so sure of obtaining Office, that they might add the control of the Licensing Committee in the next Parliament. He had seen in the newspaper (The Echo) that a noble agitator had had a fall in the Vale of Aylesbury, and so, like about to be victorious Cæsar, had taken possession of England; but very often— Minaces Turpe solum tetigere mento; and it was perfectly ridiculous to suppose that the country would be influenced by the constant and petty criticisms to which, on the part of noble Lords opposite, a Ministry on its trial had been unfairly subjected.

Motion agreed to; House in Committee accordingly.

Bill reported without Amendment; and to be read 3a on Monday next.

House adjourned at half past Six o'clock, till To-morrow, Two o'clock.