RESOLUTION OF URGENCY. SECOND READING. (Hansard, 24 August 1860)

THE LORD CHANCELLOR
moved to Resolve:— That inasmuch as, unless immediate Legislation take place on the Subject of this Bill, the Roman Catholic Charities to which it is applicable will be subject to the Operation of the Charit- 1777 able Trusts Acts of 1853 and 1855, from which by the said Acts and other subsequent Acts they have been exempted for several successive Periods, the Circumstances which require Legislation on this Subject appear to this House to be of such real Urgency as to render the immediate Consideration of the same necessary. The noble and learned Lord, having explained the purport of the Bill, said that, in his opinion, its provisions were perfectly unexceptionable. It had been suggested that the measure might have an effect upon the existing law affecting superstitious uses, and a proviso had been proposed, declaring that it should effect no change in the law. His own deliberate opinion, however, was that the Bill would have no such operation, and that the proviso suggested would he utterly useless.

LORD WYNFORD
said, he had heard no reason why the Standing Order of the House should be rescinded in this instance. The measure was one calculated to cause uneasiness; and he could not sec why time had not been allowed them to consider the subject.

THE LORD CHANCELLOR
said, the reason was that there had been an annual Bill, exempting the Catholic charities from the operation of the existing law; and unless this measure passed, these charities would conic under the existing law, which would afford matter for great regret.

LORD WYNFORD
could not understand why the Bill had not been brought up to their Lordships' House at an earlier period of the Session.

§ EARL GRANVILLE
referred to the great delay which had taken place in the passage of the Bill through the other House.

§ LORD REDESDALE
said, this measure was the settlement of a question which had been accepted by persons of different opinions in the other House; and, as such a settlement was urgent, although he did not agree with the provisions of the Bill, he should be disposed to agree to the Resolution.

LORD PETRE
said, he did not approve of the Bill; nor was it the fact, as had been stated, that the Catholics of the North approved it. The rejection of the first clause had completely altered the character of the Bill. It would, if passed in its present shape, be unjust and injurious to Catholics; and many small charities would be confiscated by the expenses in Chancery. A 1778 noble Lord had given notice of an Amendment; and he should wait to see whether that would improve the Bill, as otherwise he should offer it his opposition.

THE LORD CHANCELLOR
said, he moved the second reading upon the understanding that no Amendments should be introduced; and he should resist any proposition to that effect.