§ THE EARL OF ST. GERMANS moved the Second Reading of this Bill, which he said 220 had for its object to restrict the Ecclesiastical Courts of Ireland to ecclesiastical matters and to transfer matrimonial suits to the Court of Probate.
THE EARL OF DONOUGHMOREobserved, that the Bill contained some clauses which he thought were undesirable. The Bill did not prescribe any mode of procedure, which was a very important point.
THE MARQUESS OF WESTMEATHsaid, he was opposed to that part of the Bill which authorized the taking of evidence in the Probate and Divorce Courts by Examiners, as a most unsatisfactory method of taking evidence in any court of law.
THE BISHOP OF DERRYsaid, the Bill had been approved by the highest authorities in Ireland. He thought the matrimonial jurisdiction could be best administered by the Judge who presided over the Probate Court.
THE MARQUESS OF CLANRICARDEsaid, he hoped that, if the Bill were carried, its provisions would be carried out with a greater regard to economy than had hitherto been observed by the Irish Commissioners of the Ecclesiastical Courts. He did not see why they should have £1,000 a year more salary than the Poor Law Commissioners, who did a great deal more work for what they received.
§ After a few words from the EARL OF ST. GERMANS,
§ Bill read 2a, and committed to a Committee of the whole House on Monday next.