§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
§ LORD FITZGERALD, in moving that the Bill be now read a second time, explained that the object of the measure was to prohibit the sale of intoxicating liquors to children under 13 years of age for their own consumption.
§ Moved, "That the Bill be now read 2a." (The Lord FitzGerald.)
LORD HARRISasked whether a publican who supplied liquor to a parent who gave it to his children would not be subject to the penalty?
§ LORD FITZGERALDsaid, the Bill was only directed against the sale of drink to children for their own consumption.
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYsaid, that the sale to children of cider as well as beer would be prohibited by this extraordinary legislation. He remembered, when 12 years of age, often pulling up the river to Surley Hall and committing what, in the case of boys under 13, would now become the enormity of drinking cider to quench his thirst. Although the measure was an extraordinary one, it was not worthy of serious opposition, because he did not suppose that anyone would pay any attention to it if it were passed.
§ Motion agreed to: Bill read 2a accordingly, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House To-morrow, and Standing Order No. XXXV. to be considered in order to its being dispensed with.