SECOND READING. (Hansard, 12 June 1876)

§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH,
in moving that the Bill be now read a se- 1754 cond time, said, the Act of 1871 instituted a certain rating qualification, which after a short time, it was found necessary to raise by the Act of 1873. A Select Committee sat on the Irish Jury system for two sessions, and they reported unanimously that the rating qualification fixed by the old Act was too low, and that it should be raised somewhat higher than it was by the temporary Act of 1873. When he came to look into the question it occurred to him that it might be settled by adopting a household qualification as better than one derived from holding a certain number of acres of land. He had, therefore, adopted the principle based on the rateable value of houses, and had supplemented it by a qualification arising from occupation of lands, tenements, or hereditaments, but upon a higher basis than under the existing law. He also proposed to add freeholders to the value of £10, and leaseholders to the value of £20 per annum. The right hon. Baronet concluded by moving the second reading of the Bill.

§ CAPTAIN NOLAN
said, that as there were several alterations which ought to be made, he trusted that an opportunity would be given for discussion at the next stage of the Bill.

THE O'CONOR DON
said, having sat on the Committee, he wished to state that the right hon. Gentlemen the Chief Secretary for Ireland had fairly embodied in the measure the unanimous recommendations of the Committee, and he would be sorry to see any difficulties thrown in the way of the passing of the Bill. In his opinion it was a just and fair measure.