SECOND READING. (Hansard, 20 July 1894)

LORD DENMAN

moved the Second Reading of this Bill. He observed that it seemed almost a formality to make the Motion, but some women had taken the trouble to urge him to proceed with it. He did not see any great advantage in pressing the Bill, but, nevertheless, he pleaded with their Lordships to accord a Second Reading to the Bill, for which many women would be grateful. He did not wish it to be supposed that the House of Lords was against the Second Reading of the Bill. He had been for 10 years trying to obtain that stage, and had had many instances of agreement with him on many points, whilst there were no points of difference which could not be very easily adjusted in Committee. He did not think anyone could say he had been hasty in this matter. He had tried for many Sessions to get this Bill through the Second Reading; he had on many occasions been up till as late as 12 o'clock with a view to secure that object, and he trusted their Lordships would now reward his perseverance by agreeing to his present Motion. He begged to move that the Bill be now read a second time.