*THE EARL OF STAMFORDin moving the Second Reading of this Bill, disclaimed any credit for its title. The Bill, he said, aimed at a small but very useful work among the poorest class. The persons to whom the Bill would be of the most use would be honest working men who, during their search for work, were driven by stress of circumstances to lodging-houses and shelters. Misery, they knew, made a man acquainted with strange Led-fellows, and there was a certain difficulty in the way of men in that position ridding themselves of these bed-fellows under the present circumstances. The Bill was intended to give them a short and easy way of extricating themselves from those difficulties and of going able to associate on more equal terms with their fellow-workmen. It was also designed to give the means of waging war upon filth and its evil accompaniments generally. It simplified the procedure in this way—that instead of a man in this condition having to go to the casual ward and be detained there he might go to any local authority and avail himself of the disinfecting appliances to thoroughly cleanse himself. The power was given of expending a reasonable sum on buildings, appliances, or attendants that might be required to carry out the objects of the Bill. The Measure had been pressed forward by those who were well qualified to speak from their efforts and work amongst the 134 very poor, and it was held by them that whereas the Bill, being permissive only, could do very little harm, if ally, it was extremely likely that it might do some good in dealing with a great evil. He, therefore, moved that the Bill be read a Second time.
LORD HARRISsaid the Local Government Board had no objection to the Bill.
Read 2a (according to Order), and committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Monday next.