§ Order for Second Reading read.
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Bill be now read a second time."
§ The CHIEF SECRETARY for IRELAND (Mr. Birrell)The meaning of this Bill appears on the face of it. Its object is to enable the Corporation of Dublin to increase the library rate from 1d. to 1½d. in the £ in order to preserve one of the most interesting picture galleries to be found in any capital. We owe this gallery largely to the generosity and the knowledge and taste of Sir Hugh Lane. It is a small collection contained in a most interesting Dublin house where French, Spanish, and Irish art can be seen in a most interesting form. Owing to the limitation placed upon the library rate in Dublin it has been found very difficult to maintain this gallery. The penny rate in Belfast has been exceeded by a local Act. This increased library rate has been approved of by the Corporation of Dublin, and it will enable this excellent institution to be kept 835 up, I hope, for all time. That being so, I trust the House will give this Bill a Second Reading. It is a very small measure, and I intend to move that it be referred to a Committee of the Whole House, because I think I shall have an opportunity of passing it without Amendment at an early date after the holidays.
§ Mr. WATSON RUTHERFORDI have not the slightest intention of doing anything to prevent this Bill being passed. After the explanation we have had it is evident that there is in Dublin an art gallery or collection of pictures of considerable importance, the utility of which would be greatly endangered unless we get this Bill passed at this particular juncture. May I point out, however, that the first section of this Bill will enable the rate to be increased in every county borough in the whole kingdom of Ireland wherever there is an art gallery by one halfpenny in the £ over the existing rate. Dublin is about the most highly-rated city in the United Kingdom. We were told in the Committee upstairs the other day the rates in Dublin are almost the highest in the United Kingdom. Of course, I quite admit the authorities in Dublin are willing to have another ½d. put on to the rates. I suppose they would not mind if 3d. or 4d. were added, because when you get to a certain point it hardly matters whether your rates are increased or not.
The rates of Dublin are, I believe, over 10s. in the £ already, and the way in which after 11 o'clock at night we are asked to proceed with a Bill like this to enable another addition to be put on to these terrible rates is at all events a matter worthy of comment. I should have been better pleased if the right hon. Gentleman had told us whether it was really necessary under the circumstances to increase the rate in the manner suggested. If this particular collection of pictures is of such national importance, then I think something might be done with regard to it, instead of laying an additional burden on the citizens of Dublin, which they are too little able to afford. This is another example of Bills, which perhaps in themselves have got an intelligible and useful object, but which are calculated when passed to impose increased burdens of a serious character. I hardly think this is the sort of Bill which ought to be forced upon us after 11 o'clock at night; but, if the Members representing Ireland in both interests are agreed upon a Bill of this 836 sort, it would ill become me to offer any opposition to its being passed. I cannot allow it be passed, however, without making these observations.
§ Question, "That the Bill be now read second time," put, and agreed to,
§ Mr. BIRRELLI beg to move "That the Bill be committed to a Committee of the Whole House for Monday, 19th June."