HC Deb 26 May 1876 vol 229 cc1337-9

Order for Second Reading read.

THE SOLICITOR GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. PLUNKET),

in moving that the Bill be now read the second time, said, it was proposed, in accordance with the recommendations of different Select Committees who had considered the subject, that the two offices of the Clerk of the Peace and of the Crown should be amalgamated. Accordingly the main provision of the Bill was that upon either of the two offices becoming vacant, the Lord Lieutenant should have power to order the amalgamation of the two offices. If the House would read the Bill a second time he should, in due time propose to commit it pro formâ, in order to introduce certain Amendments which might be found necessary. The hon. and learned Gentleman concluded by moving the second reading.

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Bill be now read a second time."—(Mr. Solicitor General for Ireland.)

SIR COLMAN O'LOGHLEN,

in moving, as an Amendment, that the Bill be read a second time that day six months, said that although he assented to the general principle of amalgamating the two offices, he objected that the officer to be appointed to the joint post would be practically a mere Clerk of the Treasury. Unless that and other objectionable provisions were omitted, he should oppose the measure in all its future stages. He would conclude by moving its rejection.

MR. LAW

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 Colman O'Loghlen.)

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

MR. MELDON,

in moving the adjournment of the debate, said, he was of opinion that the Bill ought not to be proceeded with at present, and that the hon. and learned Gentleman the Solicitor General for Ireland had "put the cart before the horse." There was another Bill which ought to come first.

MR. BIGGAR

seconded the Motion.

Motion made and Question proposed, "That the Debate be now adjourned."—(Mr. Meldon.)

SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH,

in assenting to the Motion for Adjournment, said there was no desire to press the Bill at a late hour against the feeling of the House. He must however remark that the measure was an honest attempt to save money to the ratepayers of Ireland by abolishing a useless office.

Question, "That the Debate be now adjourned," put, and agreed to.

Debate adjourned till Monday, 12th June.