SECOND READING. (Hansard, 2 April 1908)

§ THE LORD CHANCELLOR (Lord LOREBURN)

My Lords, I need say but very few words in asking your Lordships to give a Second Reading to this Bill. It deals with various points, not themselves connected, and it is the same Bill as your Lordships agreed to on the Motion of my predecessor. Last year the Bill was introduced by myself; it passed through this House, but, unfortunately, shared the fate of other measures which could not be disposed of elsewhere. I will only say that the Bill does not in any way represent my idea of what ought to be done in connection with an amendment of the law relating to County Courts. There are two important points which deserve attention. I referred to one last year—the character of the jurisdiction in regard to what I call imprisonment for debt, for in substance it is imprisonment for debt. I have been very anxious to make proposals in 637 regard to that; but I think a wise course has been taken in the appointment of a Select Committee of the House of Commons for the purpose of investigating the subject, for undoubtedly there is a controversial aspect. The second point is this. It is more than thirty years since the Judicature Commission recommended that the High Court of Justice and the County Court should form part of one system instead of being separate and independent, as they are now; and, although Lord Cairns did not approve of the recommendation at the time, he subsequently changed his mind and brought in and carried through this House a Bill for the purpose of giving effect to that recommendation I will not say that that ought to be done at once. I am satisfied that it cannot very well be done without some inquiry, and I intend to propose an inquiry. I ask to be excused for referring to those two matters even so shortly, because I do not wish it to be supposed that this Bill represents all that I think might be done, or, indeed, ought to be done, in regard to the business of, and arrangements relating to, County Courts.