The Press.
London, England, 1856-02-16 00:00:00

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actual obstacles as a deficiency of impelling force.
Now, if consolidation of the Statute Law were deter-
mined on, there were two modes of accomplishing
the work :

The one mode was to have a fixed body—whether it
assumed the shape of a Minikter of Justice or a body of
commissioners, still a fixed body—to deal successfully
with all those subjects. The other plan was to divide the
Statute Law into groups—to take each group separately,
whether simultaneously it mattered not, and to confide it
to special persons who had made that particular branch of
the law their study. There were advantages incidental to
the adoption of each of those plans. By the first they
would have the advantage of uniformity of action always to
be derived from the operation of a single fixed mind.
By the second plan they would utilise to a much
greater degree the services of those who had famili•
arised themselves with a particular subject; and they
would have it in their power to employ the services of able
men, whom it might be difficult to take altogether away
from their professional duties.
In the work of consolidation he thought that uni-
formity of language was desirable, and, consider-
ing that in the Statute Law there wtts so much that
was obsolete, and so many cases in which the statutes
were virtually repealed, that reform ought not to be
overlooked in the consideration of this question. As
to the popular objection that the constant passing
of new acts must seriously interfere with the con-
solidation of the law, he denied it. It was no argu-
ment against clearing the statute-book of its pre
sent encumbrances :
It was clear that they required some competent autho•
rity—whether thLt of a Minister or that of a board—to
revise and examine every act as it came before Parliament.

(Hear, hear.) They needed some authority to see that
their legislation did not contradict itself, or clash with

former statutes that it was not meant to repeal, and that
it accurately and fully expressed the intentions of the
legislature ( Hear, hear.) That was a proposition which
had been put forward again and again—put forward years
ago by very able men, and which was now, he believed,
engaging the attention of some of the most eminent
lawyers of the day ; and fur himself, he should say that he
had heard no valid reason against its adoption (Hear, hear.)
The ATTORNEY- GENERAL believed there was no
difference of opinion as to the necessity of a consoli•
dation of the Statute Law ; but he thought the
quickest way of proceeding would be first to sweep
away from the
.statute. book all repealed or partly
repealed statutes, and then to consolidate the re-
mainder. He did not agree with Sir F. Kelly's
scheme of taking the laws in detail; and believed
that, if that were adopted, we should have to wait for
two centuries instead of two years for the completion
of the task. He would recommend in preference an
analytical compilation of the Statute Law, subdivided
under different heads, so that the whole might be
simultaneously dealt with. However, so far from

opposing the motion, he was ready to give Sir F.
Kelly every assistance.
Mr. S. "WORTLEY acknowledged the plan proposed
by the Attorney General would be preferable to that
of Sir F. Kelly ; but the question was, what was prac-
ticable consistent with our constitutional Govern-
ment? For his part he thought Sir F. Kelly's the
more likely of the two measures to succeed.
After some further remarks from Sir G. Grey, Mr.
Baines, and the Solicitor-General, in favour of Sir
F. Kelly's motion,
Sir F. KELLY made a brief reply to the objections
of the Attorney-General, and leave was given to bring
in the bills.
FORMATION OF PARISHES BILL.

The Marquis of BLANDFORD, in the House of Com-
mons, on Wednesday, moved the second reading of
the Formation of Parishes Bill. The object of the
measure was to perfect the parochial system by faci-
litating the subdivision of existing parishes into new
parochial districts, for the purpose of church endow-
ment. Various changes in local condition, the
increase of population, and the growth of cities, had,
he contended, rendered it expedient to remodal the

old parish system, and adapi its boundaries to the
present circumstances and wants of the country.
After describing the provisions of the measure, arid
explaining the means by which he designed to pro-
vide for the patronage of livings, and avoid any
nterference with existing interests, the noble lord
agreed, if the house wished it, to refer the details
for adjustment by a select committee.
Mr. HADFIELD resisted the further progress of the
bill, being opposed to its principle. He complained
of the enormous powers it conferred upon the
ecclesiastical commissioners, and urged various ob-
jections to the measure from a nonconformist point
of view. He moved to defer the second reading fbr
six months.

Sir G. GREY said, although the bill had been
brought in on the responsibility of Lord Blandford,
without the previous sanction of the Crown, its ob-
ject was of such importance, and the principle (so
far as it could be abstracted from the details), that of
providing for a more efficient subdivision of large
and populous parishes, so well deserved the attention
of Parliamert, that he thought it would be wrong
read the bill a second time, as Lord
consented that the details, some of

THE PRESS.

which required much consideration, should be dis-
cussed in a select committee.

After a brief discussion, in which Mr, Liddell, Sir
J. Fergusson, Mr. l'ellatt, and Mr. Gladstone partici-
pated, Mr. Hadfield withdrew his amendment, the
bill was read a second time, and ordered to be re-
ferred to a select committee. •

to refuse to i
Blandford had
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