COMMITTEE. (Hansard, 7 March 1893)

§ THE LORD CHANCELLOR

My Lords, on the Second Reading I called attention to a provision contained in the first clause relating to what are known as hire and sale agreements, and pointed out that in some respects the evils which arise under those agreements were similar to those existing in the case of goods transferred by bills of sale, and that an attempt had been made to deal with the matter in this Bill. I stated at the same time that very grave exception had been taken to the proposal, which it was considered might in many cases lead to injustice and put an end to, or throw insuperable difficulties in the way of, this hire and sale system, which is very prevalent and, as regards certain goods at all events, extremely common and beneficial. On the other hand, I have had representations from trade societies, strongly urging that the matter should be dealt with. I have taken those representations of the opposing views in the matter into my consideration, and I have come to the conclusion that if I were to attempt to retain any provisions of that description in this Bill, and so make it of a contentious nature, it would be a misfortune, inasmuch as the Consolidation Act relating to bills of sale is an important measure, and of somewhat pressing emergency. I have, therefore, upon the whole, come to the conclusion to ask your Lordships to omit the provisions relating to these hire and sale agreements at once. Of course, I will consider whether they can be dealt with by themselves in some subsequent measure. I therefore move to leave out Sub-section C in Clause 1.