HC Deb 12 February 1897 vol 46 cc366-8

On the Order for the Second Reading of this Bill,

MR. W. JOHNSTON (Belfast, S.)

expressed the hope that the House would assent to the Second Reading of the Measure. The Bill, he said, was simple in its terms, and its object was to provide pensions for County Surveyors in Ireland.

*THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (MR. JOHN ATKINSON,) Londonderry, N.

said that so far from the Bill being simple or acceptable in its terms, it really violated all accepted notions of propriety and justice. [Laughter.] The second clause of the Bill is framed to enable the Grand Jury of a county to award a pension to any county surveyor who might be serving in that county at the time when he retired, and it gives them the power to direct that the amount of that pension should be payable not only from the county cess of the county in which the surveyor was serving at the time of retirement, but also from the cess of those counties in which he had previously served. He thought that was a most unwise and unjust provision. ["Hear, hear!"]

MR. JOHNSTON

said he was extremely sorry to have misled the House, but the hon. Member for Fermanagh assured him that he had seen the Attorney General for Ireland, and had introduced an Amendment to the Bill as originally drafted, which, he told him, had received the sanction of the right hon. and learned Gentleman. He was extremely sorry to have misled the House, but under the circumstances he hoped the House would acquit him. [Cheers.]

THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY

I suggest that, in the circumstances, the Debate should be adjourned.

MR. JOHN BURNS (Battersea)

hoped the hon. Member would withdraw this objectionable Bill. If the Debate was adjourned encouragement would only be given to a group of mischievous Bills of a similar character, which it was the intention of Members on both sides of the House to bring in for the superannuation of everybody except the ratepayers, who provided the money. He trusted the House would reject the Bill.

MR. JOHNSTON

On the statement of the right hon. Gentleman the Attorney General for Ireland, I would ask permission to withdraw the Bill.

*MR. SPEAKER

Do I understand the hon. Member desires to withdraw the Bill?

MR. JOHNSON

Yes, Sir.

Motion, by leave, withdrawn.

Bill withdrawn.