§ MR. HASSARDsaid, he wished to ask Mr. Attorney General for Ireland, if it is his intention to introduce any measure during this Session for the amendment of the Laws relating to Charitable Donations and Bequests in Ireland?
§ MR. O'HAGAN (ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND)said, in reply, that he had, since last Session, given to the subject the best attention in his power. He had been in communication with some of the most active and influential of the Charity Commissioners in Ireland, and he had found that, although some small increase of jurisdiction might be thought desirable, they were not at present disposed to accept larger powers or greater responsibility. Their services being gratuitous, the Commissioners had power to withdraw at their pleasure; and the alternative open to the Government if they were to proceed on a different system from the present would simply be, that they should substitute for it one of a very expensive and very complicated character He was not aware that there was any necessity for taking that course, or any such decided expression of opinion in Ireland as would justify the Government in adopting it. He believed that so far as matters had gone, meetings of the Board had not been held with sufficient regularity, and of which complaint had been made; but then there had been latterly considerable changes in it, and the attendance was, he understood, much better than 497 it had been previously. Under all the circumstances of the case the Government did not deem it expedient to introduce a Bill on the subject.