HC Deb 16 May 1881 vol 261 cc667-9

Bill considered in Committee.

(In the Committee.)

MR. BIGGAR

pointed out that the Amendments upon the Paper to this Bill were of a very important character, and required examination at the hands of hon. Members, especially those who represented Irish constituencies. Among other things, he observed that the Bill raised the question of pensions, which the Petty Sessions Clerks were to receive. That was a matter which deserved full consideration, and it was utterly impossible to deal with it in a satisfactory manner at that hour—2.5 A.M. He trusted that hon. Members in charge of the Bill would not persist in proceeding further in Committee that night.

Motion made and Question proposed, "That the Chairman do report Progress, and ask leave to sit again."—(Mr. Biggar.)

MR. LITTON

said, he should be the last person to ask the House to proceed with the Bill before hon. Members had fully considered its provisions; but the Amendments on the Paper were of a formal nature, and these, he thought, might very well be taken. When the Superannuation Clause, to which the hon. Member for Cavan objected, was reached, if the House thought proper, and the hon. Member deemed it right to renew his objection to the clause, he (Mr. Litton) would not object to report Progress.

MAJOR NOLAN

thought the present a favourable opportunity for passing the Bill. There were so few chances of getting Irish Bills into Committee that he trusted the hon. Member for Cavan would withdraw his Motion.

MR. BIGGAR

was willing, after the appeal of the hon. and gallant Member for Galway, to agree to the formal Amendments being taken. He should feel it his duty, however, to renew his Motion to report Progress when the Superannuation Clause was reached.

MR. R. POWER

asked what had become of the Amendments which had stood in the name of the hon. and learned Member for Kildare (Mr. Meldon)?

MR. LITTON

said, they had been included in the Amendments which he was about to move by arrangement with the hon. and learned Member.

Motion, by leave, withdrawn.

Clause I (Salaries of clerks of petty sessions in Ireland not to depend on amount of fines or petty sessions stamps), agreed to.

Clause 2 (Provisions for securing Petty Sessions Clerks Fund from variation).

On the Motion of Mr. LITTON, Amendment made, in page 1, line 20, after "salaries," by inserting "and retiring allowances."

MR. HEALY

thought the hon. and learned Member for Tyrone should give the Committee an explanation as to why the Amendment standing in the name of the hon. Member for Armagh (Mr. De La Poer Beresford) had not been moved.

MR. LITTON

said, the Amendment in question had been put down to meet certain objections which had been raised by some of the Town Commissioners in Ireland. The hon. Member was now satisfied that the Definition Clause with regard to "local authorities" rendered it unnecessary for him to propose his Amendment.

Clause, as amended, agreed to.

On the Motion of Mr. LITTON, the following Clauses were added to the Bill:— It shall not be necessary for a Petty Sessions Clerk to enter into a new bond with sureties on each occasion of increase in his salary, nor, except when by reason of the death or insolvency of his sureties or for other sufficient reason the Lord Lieutenant may consider such to be necessary, shall a new bond be required, but the original bond as against the original sureties shall remain of full force and effect notwithstanding such increase of salary. (Definition Clause.) 'Local authorities' shall mean the treasurers of counties and treasurers of boroughs to whom the surplus moneys arising from the sale of licences are payable under 'The Dogs Regulation (Ireland) Act, 1865,' and any Act amending the same. 'Petty sessions clerks' shall include the registrar of petty sessions clerks and his clerks.

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Chairman do report Progress, and ask leave to sit again."—(Mr. Litton.)

Motion agreed to.

Committee report Progress; to sit again upon Wednesday.