THE EARL OF CARNARVON, in presenting a Petition from the Local Board 1246 of Health of Aldershot, in favour of the continuance of the above-named Acts, said, that the Petitioners deprecated the course that had been taken by the Government, and set forth the good results that had followed the enforcement of the Acts. They also stated that, at Aldershot, there had not been one single case of hardship caused by the application of those measures since their introduction. He (the Earl of Carnarvon) feared that the Bill which had been brought forward for the better protection of young girls could hardly become law this Session; and, if it did not, the state of the towns which had formerly been, but were no longer, subject to the operation of the Contagious Diseases Acts would be very deplorable.
THE LORD CHANCELLORsaid, that, with regard to the apprehension expressed by the noble Earl opposite (the Earl of Carnarvon), the Bill for the protection of young girls was to be considered in Committee on Monday, and that there were reasonable grounds for supposing that it would, at any rate, pass through their Lordships' House during the present Session.
Petition read, and ordered to lie on the Table.