§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
§ LORD BEARSTEDMy Lords, this Bill has already passed the Third Reading in another place and conies before your Lordships as an unopposed measure. 35 Briefly, it has the object of enabling pawnbrokers to charge½d. on pledges of goods on every 5s. or part. of 5s. that they advance. Owing to the exigencies of the times, from which we all suffer, the charges have so increased that the business has been carried on at a loss. As your Lordships know, pawnbrokers are the bankers of the poor, and when I tell your Lordships that in the district of Birmingham alone no fewer than one hundred businesses have had to close down, I am sure it will not be necessary for me to labour this point at all. I beg therefore to move that the Bill be now read a Second time.
§ Moved, That the Bill be now read 2a.—(Lord Bearsted.)
§ On Question, Bill read 2a, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House.