THE EARL OF YARBOROUGH,in moving the Second Reading of this Bill, explained that its object was to prevent accidents, which were by no means rare among those employed in connection with chaff-cutting machines. Provision was made for the casing of the dangerous parts of the machines so far as was practicable during their working. The other 3 part of the Bill merely alluded to penal clauses. There was a penalty not exceeding £5 in the case of the law being disobeyed, but the regulations were not arduous and would not put the farmers or those using chaff-cutting machines to expense. The Bill received support from all sides in the other House, and among farmers, implement makers, and others who had been consulted in different parts of the country there was a consensus of opinion in its favour. The Bill would not come into operation until August 1898, so that there was ample time for machines to be altered in the interval. The Government offices concerned, and the Home Office and Board of Agriculture, had expressed approval of the Bill, the Minister of Agriculture being strongly in favour of it. In these circumstances lie hoped their Lordships would agree to the Motion he now made.
LORD BELPER intimated that the Home Office hail no objection to the Bill.
Read 2a (according to Order), and committed to a Committee of the Whole. House on Thursday next.