§ LORD HERSCHELLMy Lords, in moving the Second Reading of this Bill, I may state that its object is to repeal a number of obsolete provisions—all provisions which have remained unrepealed by other legislation—in relation to the law of master and servant. A number of Bills were passed at different times relating to particular industries and particular places. Many of them are covered by general legislation passed since. Some of the Labour Acts have been repealed as regards England, and left unrepealed for some undiscoverable reason as regards Scotland and Ireland. None of those provisions ought to be in existence at the present time. I may give one illustration as an example. An Act was passed forbidding journeymen shoemakers to sell, exchange, or pawn hoots, shoes, or slippers, or materials for making boots, shoes, or slippers. There is no necessity nowadays for having any special legislation with regard to journeymen shoemakers, or other legislation than that which applies to all other workmen under all circumstances. There is this, also, to be added with regard to that particular Act—that it does not apply to all journeymen shoemakers, but only to those within the bills of mortality for the Metropolis. That is an instance of the kind of legislation upon this subject now remaining on the Statute Book, and which only encum- 1569 bers it for no useful purpose. I hog, therefore, to move that this Bill be now read a second time.
§ Bill read 2a (according to Order) and committed to the Standing Committee of Bills relating to Law, &c.