HC Deb 21 April 1879 vol 245 cc817-8
MR. J. LOWTHER

moved for leave to bring in a Bill to amend "The Dogs Regulation (Ireland) Act (1865)."

MAJOR NOLAN

said, he did not want the right hon. Gentleman the Chief Secretary for Ireland to make a speech; but he considered the right hon. Gentleman ought to give some explanation of the provisions of the Bill. The Bill would affect a largo proportion of his constituents—indeed, it would affect a very large number of persons in the whole of Ireland; and if its object was to increase taxation, it would assuredly give rise to a great deal of excitement.

MR. J. LOWTHER

found it difficult to explain the provisions of the Bill without making a speech. He would briefly state, however, that the object of the measure was to afford protection to the owners of flocks in Ireland, who had been making great complaints of late with reference to the ravages of dogs. The proposal was to afford Ireland equal laws by assimilating the tax on dogs to what it was in England.

MR. WHITWELL

inquired if it was proposed that the tax should go to the locality, or to the Government?

MR. J. LOWTHER

stated that it was not proposed to alter the source to which the tax should go. It would be a local tax, as it had hitherto been in Ireland.

MAJOR NOLAN

considered the proposal a most serious one, and was convinced that it would occasion a great deal of excitement in Ireland. The Bill would affect the peasant population, and it seemed that it was not intended to establish the same exemption that existed in England with respect to cattle and sheep dogs. He was certain that the measure would create in Ireland a sensation which the Government would be unable to meet. He should put a Notice to oppose it upon the Paper, and he should be surprised if it passed into law.

Motion agreed to.

Bill to amend "The Dogs Regulation (Ireland) Act, 1865," ordered to be "brought in by Mr. JAMES LOWTHER and Mr. ATTORNEY GENERAL for IRELAND.

Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 129.]