SECOND READING. (Hansard, 17 March 1884)

§ MR. MOORE

said, the Bill was one which affected a very large number of persons in Ireland, and its object was to put an end to certain grievous abuses connected with the Cork Butter Market. Those a buses were chiefly in the matter of inspection—and inspection in reference to the export of butter was a question of great importance to the Province of Minister. A very strong recommendation had been made against those abuses by the Richmond Commission. He had no desire to oppose the second reading of the Bill, but only on the clear understanding that the provisions of the measure would be modified in accordance with Lord Fitzgerald's award. The Bill, as circulated to Members, had not been so modified; but he had had placed in his hand by one of the agents a copy of it which had been so altered in accordance with that award. With that award the House was not concerned; but he had written to the right hon. Gentleman the Chairman of "Ways and Moans stating that, on the understanding that the Cork Butter Market Bill be amended as proposed, he would allow the second reading to pass without opposition. He believed it would be found that, under the award of Lord Fitzgerald, the terms of the Bill would be beneficial to the producer, and nothing loss would be satisfactory. He gladly accepted Lord Fitzgerald's award; and, under the circumstances, he would not move the Instruction to the Select 16 Committee which he had placed upon the Paper.

§ MR. HEALY

said, he was glad to hear that the hon. Member for Clonmel (Mr. Moore) had not any present intention to oppose the Bill. He must say that personally, he regarded the Bill with the Amendments engrafted on it by Lord Fitzgerald as an excellent Bill, and he thought Lord Fitzgerald was to be congratulated on the important work he had done in the interest of all parties. He thought the award was most creditable to his Lordship, and most creditable to the Corporation, and to all parties interested in Cork—first and foremost that Lord Fitzgerald had taken the trouble he had done to go into the question; and, secondly, it was satisfactory that the City of Cork, with interests so divergent, should have agreed and have submitted to the award of a noble Lord so distinguished and so disinterested as Lord Fitzgerald. He trusted that all parties would be prepared to abide by the award. With regard to the Instruction which the hon. Member for Clonmel had proposed to move, he understood that it was postponed, at any rate, for the present. He further understood that a copy of the Amendments had been engrafted on the Bill; and, as far as one of them was concerned, that the promoters were prepared to insert, upon page 4, a provision declaring that whereas the principal object to be obtained was increased facilities for the sale of butter in the market, careful and impartial inspection and classification would be secured. He was of opinion that if that provision was inserted, and careful and impartial inspection and classification were carried out loyally by the Trustees, a great deal of good would have been accomplished. But, at the same time, he would rejoice if the Trustees came to an agreement not to impose fines. He would not, however, go into the subject at present; but he would only congratulate the Corporation of Cork and Lord Fitzgerald on the Bill as it had been amended, and he hoped the result would be to restore Cork butter to the position it had previously occupied in the markets of the world.