§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading, read.
LORD DENMAN, in moving that the Bill be now read a second time, said, its object was to extend the municipal franchise to women throughout Ireland. He would not appoint a day for Committee until many Petitions had been presented for the Bill,
§ Moved, "That the Bill be now read 2a."—(The Lord Denman.)
§ THE LORD PRIVY SEAL (Earl CADOGAN)said, he must oppose the Bill, which proposed to give the municipal franchise to women throughout Ireland, without altering the franchise in other respects, as was done in the case of the Belfast Municipal Franchise Bill of last year. He moved, as an Amendment, that the Bill be read a second time that day three months.
§ Amendment moved, to leave out ("now") and add at the end of the Motion ("this day three months.")—(The Lord Privy Seal.)
LORD DENMANsaid, that the measure was a very simple one, which could do no harm, and he hoped that their Lordships would not refuse to pass it. The confining of the Bill to voters who had a £10 occupation, as was done in the Belfast Act, and as was proposed by the Local Government Bill—which might never be carried—would be unfortunate.
§ On Question, Whether the word ("now") shall stand part of the Motion? Resolved in the negative; and Bill to be read 2a this day three months.