SECOND READING. (Hansard, 28 February 1888)

§ THE LORD CHANCELLOR (Lord HALSBURY)

This Bill, of which I beg to move the second reading, is one of a series recommended and prepared by the Statute Law Revision Committee. The Lord Chancellor for the time being is head of that Body, and I have the satisfaction of knowing that during my tenure of Office great progress has been made in their work, which I have had the pleasure of furthering to the best of my opportunities. A new edition of the Statutes, revised, is about to be published, which, besides many improvements in the letter-press, will have the advantage of being much more convenient in size and at a price of about 7s. or 8s., not more than, a third of the cost of the existing edition. The work of revision goes hand in hand with consolidation, and the new edition will go a long way towards bringing the whole Statute Law into a compact, intelligible 1598 form. The public have greatly to thank the noble and learned Lord, whom I see in his place (Lord Thring), for this valuable result, and for his continuing to give so much valuable and disinterested labour to this not very grateful task. I hope that this Bill, which is one of pure consolidation, will pass speedily through your Lordships' House, and that it may be equally prosperous in "another place," as the first volume of the new edition to which I have referred is awaiting the repeal of the ancient statutes repealed by this Bill.