HC Deb 02 March 1863 vol 169 cc1017-8

Bill, as amended, considered.

Two Clauses added.

Clause 23 (Appointment of Registrars).

LORD NAAS

said, he desired that the Bill should be assimilated to the Act in force for England and Scotland with regard to the appointment of the officers under the Bill—namely, to vest the appointments in the boards of guardians. He would, therefore, move the insertion of words in Clause 23 to meet that object.

Amendment proposed, In page 7, to leave out from the words "The medical," to the word "district," in line 35, both inclusive, in order to insert the words "The guardians of any union shall appoint a person with such qualifications as the Registrar General may, by any general rule declare to be necessary, to be Registrar of Births and Deaths in each district, and in any case of vacancy in the office of Registrar, shall forthwith fill up the vacancy, —instead thereof.

SIR ROBERT PEEL

said, the question had already been considered by the House, the general opinion of which was in favour of the employment of medical officers.

MR. M'MAHON

said, there was no provision in the Bill that there should be a certificate prior to every burial, as in England. He approved the Amendment.

MR. MAGUIRE

said, he thought the Government were quite right in their proposal, and that the English system never could be adopted in Ireland.

COLONEL DUNNE

said, he could not conceive a more clumsy or ill-drawn measure. Every clause had been forced on in the absence of many Irish Members, and on every clause the majority of Irish Members present had been against the Government. He did not see why the Irish people should not choose whom they pleased for registrars, and he should support the Amendment.

COLONEL VANDELEUR

said, he took a different view of the immediate question before the House. He had reason to believe that the appointment of the medical officers as registrars in Ireland would prove most popular in Ireland.

MR. DAWSON

said, he hoped that the right hon. Baronet the Chief Secretary would not yield to the objections to the Bill.

Question put, "That the words proposed to be left out stand part of the Bill."

The House divided:—Ayes 78; Noes 40: Majority 38.

Schedule amended.

Bill to be read 3° To-morrow.