§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
§ THE LORD CHANCELLOR (LORD BIRKENHEAD)My Lords, in asking your Lordships to give a Second Reading to this Bill no lengthy explanation is necessary. A number of contracts had been entered into before the war, and in the early days of the war, in order to prevent unemployment, encouragement was given to other persons to make fresh contracts. Those contracts cannot now be carried out on an economic basis and it is proposed by this Bill, which has been prepared by a number of business men, acting in concert with a number of Judges of the High Court, to deal with the resultant situation by arming the Courts with a degree of discretion comparable with that which has been exercised during the war. I will ask your Lordships to carry this Bill through its stages to-night. I have no reason to apprehend that your Lordships will find any difficulty in taking this course.
§ Moved, That the Bill be now read 2a.—(The Lord Chancellor.)
§ On Question, Bill read 2a.
§ Then (Standing Order No. XXXIX having been suspended), House in Com- 1042 mittee: Bill reported without amendment; Bill read 3a and passed.