§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading, read.
§ THE LORD CHANCELLOR (Lord HALSBURY),in moving that the Bill be now read a second time, said: The Bill is one of those recommended by the Statute Law Revision Committee. Its preparation has been under my own cognizance as affecting one of the departments over which the Lord Chancellor presides. The consolidation into one Act of the very large number of existing Acts is in itself so desirable an object, both generally and in particular with reference to the work of Statute Law revision, that I hope this Bill will be proceeded with and passed without raising questions as to amendment of 1597 the County Courts Acts. For instance, the subject of increasing the jurisdiction is a large one, about which there is a great deal to be said, and as to which there is so much divergence of opinion that if I were to postpone the consolidation until that subject was discussed there would certainly not be time for such legislation this year, and the desirable measure which I am now recommending would be indefinitely postponed.
§ Moved, "That the Bill be now read 2a"—(The Lord Chancellor.)
§ LORD HERSCHELLsaid, he entirely agreed with the Lord Chancellor as to the importance of consolidating these Acts. He had been urged on various points to introduce Amendments into this Bill; but recognizing the impossibility of passing a Consolidation Bill of this description if Amendments were to be pressed, he should not feel justified in taking that course in connection with this measure.
§ Motion agreed to; Bill read 2a accordingly.