§ [SECOND READING.]
§ Order of the day for the Second Reading read.
§ THE LORD CHANCELLOR (The Earl of HALSBURY)My Lords, this is the same Bill that I introduced to your Lordships' House last session. The object of the Bill is to give a wider interpretation to a section in the Act of 1882, and to give bankers that protection which I think the authors of the Act intended to give them. It has been suggested, and the Court of Appeal has given effect to the suggestion, that a banker who carries a bill of exchange to a customer's account before the date on which the bill becomes due is, in fact, lending to his customer, and, therefore, is not protected by the Act of 1882. That was not the intention of the authors, and this Bill is intended to give bankers protection in such cases.
§ Moved, "That the Bill be now read 2a."—(The Lord Chancellor.)
§ On Question, Bill read 2a,and committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Friday next.
§ House adjourned at half-past Six o'clock, till To-morrow, half-past Ten o'clock.