MERCHANT SHIPPING ACTS AMENDMENT BILL.

HL Deb 21 June 1892 vol 5 cc1686-7

THIRD READING.

Order of the Day for the Third Reading read.

Moved, "That the Bill be now read 3^a."—(The Lord Herschell.)

Motion agreed to.

On Question? that the Bill do pass,

LORD BALFOUR

My Lords, before this Bill passes, I wish to ask the noble Lord in charge of the Bill whether he would see any objection to inserting the word "default" in place of the word "offence" in Clause 2, line 15? The object of the Amendment is somewhat important, because, under an Act of 1884, anybody convicted of an offence is liable to be put into prison, and it is held by some that the occurrence of the word "offence" in this clause might apply to the defaults with respect to the nature of the publication or delivery of copies of certificates. Obviously, to put a man into prison for a default of that kind would be too severe a penalty. I think also the clause will run better with the word "default," because in the opening words of the clause the expression is "If any person makes default."

LORD HERSCHELL

My Lords, I have no objection to the Amendment; I doubt whether the apprehensions are well-founded; but it is a mere matter of drafting, and I have no objection.

Amendment moved, in Clause 2, line 15, omit ("offence") and insert ("default").—(The Lord Balfour.)

Amendment agreed to.

Bill passed, and returned to the Commons.