§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading, read.
THE EARL OF DUNRAVENsaid, it would be unnecessary to detain their Lordships for any time in explaining the object of this Bill. Its object was to protect the public from this work being performed improperly and from what amounted to a considerable nuisance. Obviously chimneys must be swept, and it was equally obvious that they should be swept efficiently, and that the persons professing to sweep them should be properly qualified for the work. Accordingly, the Bill proposed to safeguard the innocent householder (who would probably be fast asleep at the time) from being visited by unqualified persons or by others who merely made chimney-sweeping a pretence in order to obtain access to houses for totally different purposes. The Bill had passed through the House of Commons with little comment. A precisely similar measure was introduced in 1892 by Sir John Colomb, and afterwards, in 1893, by Mr. Labouchere, and was passed through the House of Commons, though it did not come up to their Lordships' House. That Bill was backed by Mr. Labouchere, Mr. Jacoby, and Sir Francis Powell. Its sponsors came from each side of the House. He would add that he would have to move an Amendment subsequently to strike out a portion of the clause. He begged to move that the Bill be read a second time.
§ Moved, "That the Bill be now read 2a."—(The Earl of Dunraven.)
§ THE EARL OF CHESTERFIELDsaid, that the Home Office had no objection whatever to the Bill.
§ Motion agreed to; Bill read 2a accordingly, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Friday next.