HC Deb 17 February 1876 vol 227 cc468-9

Order for Second Reading read.

MR. M. BROOKS

, in moving that the Bill be now read the second time, said, its object was to assimilate the law regarding the election of high sheriffs for cities and boroughs in Ireland to that of England and Scotland. Should the Bill pass, it would simply restore to Irish corporations privileges which they formerly enjoyed, but of which they had been deprived. The hon. Member concluded by moving the second reading.

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Bill be now read a second time."—(Mr. Maurice Brooks.)

SIR ARTHUR GUINNESS

, in the absence of the hon. Member for Armagh (Mr. Verner), moved the rejection of the Bill. He denied that public opinion in Ireland was favourable to giving to corporations the appointment of high sheriffs or clerks of the peace; but, on the contrary, the general opinion was that these appointments should continue to be vested in the Crown.

MR. I. T. HAMILTON

seconded the Amendment.

Amendment proposed, to leave out the word "now," and at the end of the Question to add the words "upon this day six months."—(Sir Arthur Guinness.)

Question proposed, "That the word 'now' stand part of the Question."

SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH

appealed to the hon. Member for Dublin not to persist in his opposition to this stage of the Bill, but to allow it to pass the second reading, and to endeavour to amend anything he might consider objectionable in Committee. It would be advisable that the Committee on the Bill should be postponed for some time, in order that hon. Members might have before them the proposals which the Government intended to make for uniting the offices of Clerk of the Crown and clerk of the peace in Ireland. Should these proposals be adopted, the office of clerk of the peace in boroughs could not be dealt with as suggested in this Bill. He would therefore recommend his hon. Friend to withdraw his Amendment.

MR. BUTT

said, he had made a similar proposal with regard to Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Waterford, and Kilkenny. He did not succeed, and the Irish felt naturally dissatisfied that such a broad distinction was made between Irish and English corporations. He hoped the present Bill would be more successful.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Main Question put, and agreed to.

Bill read a second time, and committed for Thursday 2nd March.