The EARL of LUCANsaid, this Bill stood for a second reading to-night, and, as it only came up from the House of Commons on Saturday, he wished to ask the noble Marquess (the Marquess of Clanricarde) whether he intended to proceed with it at this late period of the Session? The measure was one of considerable importance, and he would suggest its postponement until next Session, as it would be impossible for their Lordships to consider it before the rising of the House.
§ Several Noble LORDS also concurred in the expediency of postponing the measure.
The MARQUESS of CLANRICARDEcould not press the Bill against the almost unanimous request of their Lordships. He was perfectly ready to yield to the desire which had been expressed, at the same time throwing the responsibility of postponing the Bill on the noble Lords who had called for it. When consenting that the Bill should not be proceeded with so as to pass this Session, he hoped their Lordships would not object to its being read a second time as a matter of form. The principle of the measure he believed to be good, namely, to combine local management with central supervision. By combining and consolidating the medical charities of Ireland, a very large saving might be effected; and the Bill on their Lordships' table was calculated to give satisfaction to the people of Ireland, to the proprietors of different charities, and, he could not avoid adding, to the medical profession of that country. Several petitions had been presented in favour of the Bill, and not one, as far as he was aware, against it. But he agreed with the noble Earl that it could not be properly urged forward by the Government at that stage of the Session.
The EARL of LUCANsaid, there could be no objection to giving the Bill a second reading, provided it went no further. It was a measure that had been very imperfectly considered in the House of Commons; and if there was one Bill more than another which deserved to be carefully considered, it was that Bill.
§ LORD REDESDALEthrew the responsibility of postponing the Bill upon the 1013 Government, who had impeded and delayed its progress in the House of Commons. Bill read 2a.