The Sun.
London, England, 1865-03-30 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OF COMMONS—LAST EVENING.
SHEEP AND CATTLE BILL.
Mr. FENWICK moved the second reading of this bill,
which was to assimilate the law in England with regard to
dogs worrying sheep, to that of Ireland and Scotland. At
present the law in England did not render the owners of
dogs liable for any damage they did to cattle. It was to
remedy this that the present measure was introduced.
The bill, after a few words from C. O'LorcarLDT, was
read a second time.
COUNTY VOTERS REGISTRATION BILL.
This bill was aead a second time.
CHEMISTS AND DRUGGISTS BILL.
Sir F. KELLY rose to move the second reading of this
bill. He said at present there was no protection what-
ever for the public against unqualified persons carrying on
the trade of chemists and druggists, or preven-
tative against physicians' prescriptions being made
up and dispensed by totally incompetent persons
He thought the law ought to provide a remedy for such a
state of things, and, as the Government had not felt dis-
posed to move in the matter, he had the honour to intro-
duce the present bill to the attention of Parliament. His
bill was perfectly simple. At present there was no quali-
fication, or even a license required from any person wish-
ing to trade as a chemist and druggist. Tho measure now
under consideration proposed that every person who, for
the future, wished to carry on the business of chemist and
druggist should be subjected to a certain examination by
the Pharmaceutical Society, and upon the result of that
examination should his qualification rest. if the examina-
tion was successful, the candidate would receive a certi-
ficate, which would be registered on the payment of a
small fee to the society he bad mentioned, and receive a
license to carry on the business of a chemist and druggist.
He believed that the only difficulty in the matter would be
who were to act as the body of examiners. The society
he had mentioned had been acknowledged by Parliament,
and having all the machinery at hand, he thought it the
best that Gould be selected for the object in view. Now
the bill of his hon. friend, the member for Westminster,
had two objects in view. The one was identical with his,
but the second was neither more nor less than certain
enactments to regulate the sale of poisons and chemicals,
a subject far too wide to be dealt witfi in the Manner pro-
posed. His hon. friend also proposed an examining body,
but by his bill it was proposed to institute a new.
corporate body, a new council, and other matters,
all of which he contended was provided for
in his bill. If it was thought that any new light could be
thrown in upon the matter by referring both bills to a
select committee, ho would agree to that course, but he did
not think so, and therefore he moved the second reading
of the bill.
Sir J. SHELLEY said that in the bill he proposed to
submit to Parliament he had no intention of interfering
with the chartered party—the clients of the right hon.
gentleman. The Pharmaceutical Society, he believed,
from some cause or other, instead of increasing the num-
ber of their members, which two or three years ago num-
bered 4,000, now, including foreign members, only
amounted to 2,300. Whether the exposure was the cause
of the diminution, he knew not. With respect to the
United Chemists' Society, all he could say was that they
had been snubbed by the Pharmaceutical Society for in-
terfering in the matter; but he felt that they were
just as much entitled to respect as the society repre-
sented by the honourable gentleman opposite, because they
were far more numerous and quite as efficient. The United
Society did not wish to interfere with the privileges of the
Chartered Society; they could go on with their lectures
balls, &c., but the opposition seemed to be a struggle to
obtain the sanction of Parliament to the Pharmaceutical
Society taking a fee of ten guineas from any person who
applied for examination. He believed that that sum would
not represent the amount the candidate would have to
pay. He believed from what had been communicated to
him it would amount to £3O or £4O. The Pharmaceuti-
cal Society had altogether shirked the question of the
sale of these dangerous poisons ; but he for one felt the
time had arrived when some regulations were impera-
tively called for. He should have no objection to refer
both the bills to a select committee, in the hope
that an efficient measure might be produced.
He would vote for the second reading of the bill on that
understanding.
Mr. BRADY supported the bill now introduced, as one
calculated to give security to the public. With respect to
the Pharmaceutical Society he could say that that
society was unacquainted in point of science and learning,
while the society represented by the hon. member for West-
minster was composed of druggists, clerks, ladies—(laugh-
ter)—quacks—(loud laughter}—and apprentice boys.
Mr. KINGLAKE said the reason that the Pharmaceuti-
cal Society was not so numerous in point of numbers as to
the society represented by the hon. member for West-
minster was, that in the first all new members were sub-
jected to- a very searching examination, whilst in the latter
no examination was required at all. (Hear, hear.) If the
hon. and learned gentleman would consent to certain alte-
rations in one of the clauses he would support the bill.
Mr. ROEBUCK would like to know the feelings of the
Government on the matter. He did not think the house
ought to decide upon the matter until a select committee
had deliberated on the two bills.
Sir G. GREY thought the matter deeply interesting to the
public. He could see no objection to the second reading of
the present bill. As for the Pharmaceutical Society, he
thought it a highly useful body, and any examination de-
cided on might be safely left to that society. (Hear, hear.)
He had received deputations from both the societies inte-
rested in this matter, and he had advised them to unite
with each other, but this proceeding, he believed, had been
up to the present been a failure. The bill now under con-
sideration was a good one as far as it went, but it did not
'go far enough. It entirely omits to deal with the great
question of the sale of drugs and poisons. He felt it
highly important that while dealing with the one matter
they should not deal with the other. He thought that both
bills might be read a second time, and then each referred
to a select committee, and that one good bill might be made
out of the two.
Lord ELCHO supported the second reading of the bill.
The bill was then read a second time, an& ordered to be
referred to a select committee.
CHEMISTS AND DRUGGISTS BILL (No. 2).
Sir J. SHELLEY, in moving the second reading of this
bill, said the greatest care had been taken not to infringe
on the privileges of the Pharmaceutical Society, but with
respect to examinations that had been talked about, he
could say that only three out of the council of 23 of the
Pharmaceutical Society had passed any examination, and
that there were 600 out of the 2,500 members in the same
position.
The bill was then read a second time, and ordered to be
referred to a select committee,
SMALL BENEFICES (IRELAND) BILL.
This bill passed through committee.
MUTINY BILL.
This bill was read a third time.
CONSOLIDATED FUND (£15,000,000) BILL.
This bill was read a time time.
AFFIRMATION (SCOTLAND) BILL.
The Lords' amendments to this bill were considered and
agreed to.
The house then adjourned.

MARKETS--This Day.

METROPOLITAN CATTLE.

There was a fair average supply of beasts on sale here,
to-day, in but middling condition. The demand for most
breeds was inactive, and, in some instances, prices were a
shade lower. The supply of sheep was moderato. Downs
and half-breds were steady, at previous currencies. Other-
wise the mutton trade was in a sluggish state, at barely
Monday's decline in the quotations. Lambs moved off
slowly, at from 6s. to 7s. per 81bs. Calves were dull on
former terms, viz., from 4s. 6d. to ss. Bd. per 81bs. The
pork trade was steady, at previous rates. Mulch cows pro-
duced from £l6 to £22.