§ Order for Second READING read.
§ COLONEL NOLAN, in moving that the Bill be now read a second time, explained that it was only a short Bill, and simply enabled Trustees to transfer Coast Fisheries to the Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland.
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Bill be now read a second time."—(Colonel Nolan.)
§ COLONEL KING-HARMANsaid, he had hoped that the Chief Secretary would have expressed some opinion upon this Bill. He wished it had been as fair and as good a Bill as was brought in last year, which, however, had not got to a second reading. That Bill, in doing away with the present officers, who administered these Trusts, provided in some undefined way that they should receive some compensation for the abolition of their office; but this Bill provided no such compensation whatever. They would, therefore, be thrown out of employment without any compensation; and he should, therefore, move that the Bill be read a second time that day six months.
§ Amendment proposed, to leave out the word "now," and at the end of the Question to add the words "upon this day six months."—(Colonel King-Harman.)
§ Question proposed, "That the word 'now' stand part of the Question."
§ MR. TREVELYANsaid, he hoped the hon. and gallant Gentleman would withdraw his Amendment after he had stated the view of the Government. The Bill was similar in its essential lines to the Bill which he had himself introduced last year; it was a Bill in which he took considerable interest, and he was satisfied that the right course 251 had been taken. The Bill of last year fell through owing to the Government and the several Trustees being unable to come to an understanding, and he then stated that, so far as that Bill was concerned, it was impossible for him to proceed last Session; but he limited that declaration distinctly to last year, and this Bill was one which he should heartily support in principle. He could not, however, agree to the second reading on the part of the Government, unless the hon Member, who was standing godfather to the Bill, and who he hoped had the authority of the Gentlemen whose names appeared on the Bill, and was quite sure that he understood their feelings, would agree to put off any further stage of the Bill for a week, within which time he should be prepared to name the conditions of compensation upon which the Government would only consent to support the Bill. He could assure the hon. Member that those conditions would be such as would meet with his acceptance.
§ COLONEL KING-HARMANsaid, on those condition he would withdraw his Amendment.
§ Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.
§ Main Question put, and agreed to.
§ Bill read a second time, and committed for Monday next.