§ THE SOLICITOR GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. PLUNKET),in moving for leave to bring in a Bill to extend the jurisdiction of the Courts for hearing Civil Bill causes in Ireland, and for other purposes; said, it was a very important Bill to the people of Ireland. At present a Common Law jurisdiction was enjoyed by the Civil Bill Courts except in cases of libel, slander, breach of promise of mariage, and criminal conversation, to the limit of £40, and he now proposed to extend that jurisdiction to £50. He also proposed to give an equitable jurisdiction to those Courts. As regarded Admiralty cases, he hoped to deal with them by another Bill which he would lay before the House in a few days. The Government did not propose to deal with administration of the law of bankruptcy at present. This Bill was founded upon the English Act of 1865; but whereas the English Bill was limited to cases of £500, including personalty and realty, this Bill would be limited to £500 personalty, and also include realty to the value of £30 a-year. With regard to the testamentary causes the Bill proposed that the Chairman of the county, in those cases in which he was satisfied on affidavit that the deceased person had his last place of abode within the county, and that his personal property did not exceed £500, or his real property the annual value of £30, should have original jurisdiction. The salaries of Chairmen of counties would not be increased in consideration of the extra duties thus imposed upon them, but would be charged upon the Consolidated Fund, and travelling expenses would be allowed. It was proposed that the Chairmen of counties hereafter appointed should not be permitted to practise at the Bar, and that in future equal pay and, as nearly as possible, equal work would be given to all of them. For it was intended that the second and third-class Chairmanships should be gradually abolished; and finally, by the re-arrangement of districts, their number should be reduced from 33 to 21. By a separate Bill the offices of Clerk of the Peace and Clerk of the Crown would be united.
§ MR. MELDONexpressed a general approval of the Bill.
§ Motion agreed to.
§ Bill to extend the jurisdiction of the Courts for hearing Civil Bill Causes in Ireland; and for other purposes, ordered to he brought in by Mr. SOLICITOR GENERAL for IRELAND and Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH.
§ Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 82.]