§ The EARL of LUCAN moved the Second Reading of this Bill. By an Act of the 53rd of George III. the power of distraining growing crops for arrears of rent was given to the landlords of Ireland. In the year 1843 that Act was repealed by another, which was passed on the 28th of August, when a majority of the noble Peers connected with Ireland had returned to that country. The object of this Bill was to re-enact the Act of George III., and to restore a statute which had seldom or ever been used, and which certainly had never been abused. That statute was, in point of fact, a dead letter; but the knowledge of its existence had been sufficient to secure the payment of his rent to the landlord. It was desirable that it should be renewed, for its repeal was uncalled for, and had been most injurious to the peace and tranquillity of the country. Tenants now reaped their crops on Sundays, and then removed them by night for the express object of robbing their landlords. He then read several extracts from the Irish papers to show the extent to which these depredations had been carried. The power of distraining growing crops was given to the landlords of England. Now, if such a law were necessary in this country, it was still more necessary in Ireland, where the landlord had to pay rent for his smaller tenants, and was liable for arrears of rates, which was not the case in England. In England, a landlord could get rid of a tenant who was six months in arrear. Not so in Ireland. The Irish landlord ought, therefore, to have the same remedy against growing crops as the landlord had in England.
§ The MARQUESS of LANSDOWNEwas not prepared to pledge himself to support this Bill in all its details; but it was only fair to the noble Earl who had introduced it to allow it to be read a second time. Some remedy, but he would not say this remedy, ought to be applied to the grievance of which the noble Earl justly complained.
§ After a few words from the Marquess of WESTMEATH and the Earl of GLENGALL in support of the Bill,
§ Bill read 2a, and committed to a Committee of the whole House on Tuesday, 11th of June.