§ 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, that its object was to give Justices at Quarter Sessions a wider discretion in regard to the periods when Sessions for gaol delivery should be held. The measure would enable them to fix such dates for the holding of Quarter Sessions as would make it possible for them always to clear the gaols of the cases popularly called Quarter Sessions cases before the Assizes. The results of widening the powers of Justices in this way would be to save Her Majesty's Judges on Circuit great inconvenience and to economize much of the time which they at present spent in clearing the gaols.
§ Moved, "That the Bill be now read 2a."—(The Lord Chancellor.)
§ Motion agreed to; Bill read 2a accordingly.