HC Deb 28 April 1874 vol 218 cc1337-8

Bill considered in Committee.

(In the Committee.)

Clause 1 (Grouse season to begin on 12th August and partridge season on 10th September in Ireland).

MR. ERRINGTON moved, in page 1, line 5, to leave out from "and," to "September," in line 6, inclusive. Clause 1, line 15, to leave out from "and," to "September," in line 16. From "and," in line 16, to end of the clause. The hon. Gentleman said that the Bill had now been before the country for a considerable time, and it might appear somewhat strange that the opinions expressed upon it had been of a very various nature. This was to be accounted for by the fact that the interests proposed to be dealt with were situate in different parts of Ireland, and existed under remarkably different circumstances. Therefore, he thought it impossible to frame such a measure as should give satisfaction to all the interests concerned. All the Committee could hope to do was so to mould the present Bill as to make it acceptable to the greatest possible number of interests, and as little as possible injurious to the interests which it could not hope to serve. This was the object of his Amendment, and he understood that the noble Lord (Viscount Crichton) who had charge of the Bill did not oppose it. Under these circumstances, he should not inflict upon the Committee his reasons for the Amendment; but would merely state that its object was to exclude partridges from the Bill, and consequently to leave the law unaltered as concerned the commencement of partridge shooting. He might say the feeling in Ireland was decidedly in favour of a change in grouse shooting, but the balance of opinion was extreniely strong against any change in the period of partridge shooting. He was glad that the noble Lord had consented to the Amendment; because if the Bill had gone forward as it stood, it would have sacrificed the interests of the greater part of the country to those of a small minority.

MR. W. ORMSBY GORE

said, he did not wish to go against the already expressed opinions of the House, but would be ready to compromise an Amendment which stood in his name by taking an intermediate day, and would name the 16th of August, which he believed would suit all parties.

THE CHAIRMAN

explained that the Amendment could not be put unless the Amendment then before the Committee was withdrawn.

THE O'CONOR DON

hoped the hon. Gentleman would not press his Amendment. He himself had always opposed the alteration of the time of the commencement of grouse shooting; but he found the great majority of those interested in the matter in Ireland were opposed to his view, and he did not think it would be wise for them in the West of Ireland to oppose the general opinion of those who took the greatest interest in the question.

VISCOUNT CRICHTON

expressed his willingness to accept the Amendment relating to the commencement of partridge shooting.

MR. M'CARTHY DOWNING

expressed his belief that the feeling was stronger in favour of alteration in partridge shooting than in that of grouse. The weather broke at the end of September, and very little shooting could be done.

MR. O'CONOR

said, the hon. Member for Cork (Mr. Downing) must be very much mistaken, if he thought birds got wild in Ireland towards the end of September.

Amendment agreed to.

Bill reported; as amended, to be considered To-morrow.