HC Deb 30 March 1859 vol 153 cc1148-9

Order for Committee read.

House in Committee.

Clause 1 to 18 agreed to.

Clause 19,

MR. GREER

moved aproviso to Clause 19, restricting the tolls to an amount sufficient to meet the necessary expenditure of the market.

LORD NAAS

promised to frame a clause to effect this object.

Proviso withdrawn.

Clause agreed to.

Clauses 20 to 28 inclusive agreed to.

MR. COGAN

moved the omission of Clause 29, on the ground that it made it compulsory upon buyers and sellers to have recourse to the public market.

MR. ESMONDE

defended the clause.

LORD NAAS

said, that if the clause were not agreed to the sellers might pitch their articles in the streets or any where else than in the market. With competition of this sort it was not likely that the owners of a market would expend money in improving it. The clause was essentially a poor man's clause, inasmuch as it provided that corn, cattle, butter, and other merchandise should be brought to one common centre. All the evidence taken before the Committee showed that the present confusion which reigned in Irish towns on market days ought to be put an end to.

MR. SPAIGHT

said, he was of opinion that if the clause were omitted the Bill would be deprived of its chief value.

MR. H. A. HERBERT

said, he agreed with the noble Lord (Lord Naas) that the clause was a poor man's clause. Reject it, and it would be impossible for any party to come forward and give the accommodation which it was the object of the measure to provide. If sellers were to be permitted to pitch their articles in the streets, and not compelled to carry them to the market, the Bill might as well be at once abandoned.

MR. SOTHERON ESTCOURT

said, that the proposal contained in the clause was in accordance with the law of this country, to the effect that the person who exposed goods for sale in any other place than his own shop or premises during the continuance of the market, should be liable to a penalty of 40s.

MR. J. D. FITZGERALD

said, he would recommend the withdrawal of the Motion for omitting the clause, and that the point should be reserved until the Bill was reported.

Motion made and Question put—" That the clause stand part of the Bill."

The Committee divided:—Ayes 123; Noes 35; Majority 88.

Clause agreed to; as were also Clauses 30 to 33 inclusive.

House resumed.

Committee report progress.

House adjourned at five minutes before Six o'clock.