§ On the Order of the Day being read for receiving the Report of the Amendments,
LORD STANLEYsaid, though he concurred in agreeing with the noble Lord opposite, that the object of this Bill was a most beneficial one, he could not refrain calling the attention of their Lordships to the fact that it omitted to do what all similar measures on the subject had done—namely, to provide that the consent of the patron of the benefice should be obtained to the division of a union or to the consolidation of parishes. He thought they ought not to deviate in so important a principle from their former legislation on this subject. It was quite true that the patron would be entitled by this Bill to state his objections to the Lord Lieutenant and to the Privy Council of Ireland, who were to take them into consideration, but then the decision was to rest with them. He could not understand also why it should be proposed to apply the measure to private patrons only, and that the Crown should be exempted. He did not, however, wish to oppose the measure at its present stage, but merely threw out these remarks for the consideration of the noble Earl opposite, previous to the third reading.
§ EARL FORTESCUEsupported the Bill, which, he said, had been framed with the consent of the most rev. Prelate the Primate of Ireland.
After a few words from Lord MONTEAGLE,
The EARL of RODENcondemned the measure, and thanked the noble Earl for calling the attention of their Lordships to it.—Amendments reported.