SECOND READING. (Hansard, 3 August 1883)

§ EARL GRANVILLE,

in moving that the Bill be now read the second time, said, that the original Act of 1862 had been repealed by another in the year 1871, which was the main Act affecting petroleum dealers. This Act had been supplemented by one passed in 1879, and another in 1881, which related to wharfing petroleum. Recently a great many representations had been made by local authorities that a change in the law was absolutely necessary; and he might state that persons engaged in the trade had admitted the necessity of fur- 1461 ther legislation. In consequence of these representations the present Bill was introduced. It dealt with mineral oil in general, and not merely with low test oil. The existing system of licensing by local authorities would be abolished, and uniform rules laid down respecting the trade; and thus the injustice of different dealers being subjected to rules differing with the locality would be avoided. The noble Marquess had presented a Petition against the Bill, and he was sensible of the importance of the matters referred to in that Petition. Complaint was also made of the late period of the Session when the Bill was introduced; but this was always likely to happen when legislation for the security of the public against dangers was required by the Home Department. Since the Bill was read a first time he had received representations from the Greenwich Local Authorities, showing the extreme danger of allowing 800,000 gallons of petroleum to be warehoused in one place and near to jute stores; therefore, this was a matter in which the public safety was deeply involved. He was glad to say that they could refer the Bill to a Select Committee, notwithstanding the lateness of the Session, as four noble Lords had consented to serve, and the noble Duke (the Duke of Somerset) had consented to preside as Chairman; and, consequently, there would be every opportunity given for considering the details of the Bill, which was, undoubtedly, one relating to the public danger.

§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY

said, he considered that the course proposed by the noble Earl was a fair one. It was a good Committee, and there would be a competent Chairman. The subject was one of great importance. The local authorities complained of the danger arising from the storage of these articles; and there would be, without doubt, great responsibility if the Bill were put off for another year. Some of the provisions of the Bill were peculiar, and would require great consideration, particularly those which required that all kinds of mineral oils should be kept in registered places, and that they should be kept in such a manner that they could not escape into other protected 1462 places. Now, though there were dangers arising from the sale of petroleum, yet it was a very useful thing—it was an absolute necessity of life; and, perhaps, no discovery in modern times had added so much comfort to the poorest classes of the community. He, therefore, held that that House ought to be very careful in introducing legislation, however much called for in the public safety, which should place any practical bar to the use of this necessary of life by a large portion of the population.