HL Deb 27 March 1855 vol 137 cc1171-2
LORD PANMURE

, in moving the second reading of this Bill, explained that its object was to regulate the application of the statute 49th Geo. III., c. 120, which required that officers of the militia in Ireland should possess a certain property qualification according to their grades in the service. Any officer acting without his qualification did, under that statute, subject himself to a very heavy penalty; but from various circumstances, which need not be particularly described, there were many officers who had, for some time, most inadvertently been in that situation; and the object of this Bill was simply to provide, that in such cases, the officers should not become amenable to the penalties of the law, if they proved their qualifications within three months after the passing of this Bill.

The EARL OF HARDWICKE

would only take that opportunity of observing that it was very important the House should, at some early period, take into consideration the whole subject of the state of our militia. He felt much anxiety, at present, for the good order and satisfactory condition of that force.

After some remarks from Lord PORTMAN,

LORD PANMURE

said he should take care, as soon as the Bill became law, to notify to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland the instructions of the Government with regard to its provisions.

THE EARL OF ELLENBOROUGH

said, he had had an opportunity of seeing the last circular, and so far as he could judge of it, he entirely approved of the conduct of the Government in sending it forth.

THE EARL OF WICKLOW

said, that as the last clause of the Bill seemed to give rather stringent powers of removing officers, he wished the noble Lord would issue a circular to explain exactly how far its provisions were intended to be enforced.

LORD PANMURE

was understood to say, that an explanatory circular has been sent down by Government to the lieutenants of the counties, in order to correct a mistaken impression about the militia service, which had apparently excited some temporary dissatisfaction. Bill read 2a.

Committee negatived, and Bill to be read a third time on Thursday next.

House adjourned to Thursday next.