HC Deb 27 June 1856 vol 142 cc2157-8

Order for Second reading read.

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Bill be now read a second time."

MR. MACARTNEY

said, he objected to the Bill being proceeded with at that late period of the Session, he should therefore move that it be read that day three months.

Amendment proposed, to leave out the word "now," and at the end of the Question to add the words "upon this day three months."

MR. J. D. FITZGERALD

said, that the Bill was printed and distributed in the first week of the Session, since which he had met with no objection to it. It would involve no charge to the country. It gave a retired allowance to a Judge, who would receive it in any case. It was true that it consisted of as many as ninety-three clauses, but that arose from its being a consolidation of fifteen or sixteen confused Statutes.

MR. CAIRNS

said, that the Chamber of Commerce at Belfast, had presented a petition against the Bill. It confounded bankruptcy and insolvency in an objectionable manner, and placed on the retired list several Judges yet able to do work. He trusted that the Bill, at that period of the Session, would be discharged; if not, he must support the Motion against it.

MR. VANCE

said, he could only characterise the Bill as a job, which would give retiring allowances to several Judges who did not as yet deserve it. After what had been already done in respect of the Irish Chancery Bill, not one clause of which had been approved by the Committee, he believed that the present measure would be found equally defective. Next Session it might be referred to a Select Committee. The Chamber of Commerce of Dublin had, it was true, petitioned in its favour, but they had strong objections to many of its points. He should certainly support the Amendment.

COLONEL FRENCH

said, he objected that the Bill came on for second reading, when several Irish Members were unavoidably absent on circuit.

MR. M'CANN

said, he must deny that the mercantile interest was opposed to the Bill.

Question, "That the word 'now' stand part of the Question," put, and agreed to.

Main Question put, and agreed to.

Bill read 2!.