THE EARL OF DONOUGHMOREmoved as an Amendment that the second reading be postponed till that day three months. The Bill, he said, was a measure which, under the guise of a private Bill, dealt with great public interests and should be dealt with as a public Bill. It was proposed to establish another market in the east end of the city of Dublin, and to the site fixed on there was the strong objection that in order to roach it the cattle would have to be driven through the streets entirely across the city. The management of any market ought to be left in the hands of the Corporation, who were the proper parties to make regulations. There were many persons whose interests would be affected by the Bill, but who could not be heard before a Select Committee, and he thought that the best way would be that the whole subject should be inquired into by a Royal Commission in the same manner that a Royal Commission had inquired into the best mode of erecting markets for the metropolis. He had a petition, signed by 1,514 sellers in Dublin market, and fifteen other petitions, signed by 2,351 ratepayers of Dublin, against this Bill. He hoped such a strong expression of opinion on the part of those best acquainted with and most affected by this Bill would induce their Lordships to give their support to his proposal.
§ Amendment moved, to leave out "now," and insert "this day six months."
THE EARL OF CLANCARTYtrusted their Lordships would not refuse the second reading, for to do so would render the inquiry into the subject by the other House of Parliament valueless. The Bill sought to remedy a great public evil and supply a great public want. The measure had been fully considered before a Select Committee of the House of Commons, and entirely approved by them. The example of the inquiry by a Royal Commission for the metropolis was not analogous to the present case. In London the Committee of the House of Commons refused to name any particular site for the new markets, and suggested that a Royal Commission should be issued to make the necessary 631 inquiries. In the present case, however, the Select Committee had reported that the site proposed in the Bill was the hest that could be selected. The Corporation of Dublin acted like the dog in the manger in this matter, because they neither could nor would effect this necessary improvement themselves, nor allow any other persons to do it. He hoped their Lordships would read the Bill a second time. It would remedy a great abuse, and supply a large amount of required accommodation in the best possible manner.
§ LORD REDESDALEsaid it was not their Lordships' practice to discuss private Bills on the second reading, and he thought they would not be disposed to depart from that course with regard to the present Bill from anything they had heard to-night. He did not mean to say that in no case should a Bill be opposed on that stage; but his noble Friend who moved the Amendment had stated nothing to take this Bill out of the usual rule. He trusted, therefore, the noble Earl who had opened the discussion would consent to withdraw his Amendment and allow the Bill to go to a second reading.
§ EARL GRANVILLE, with reference to a suggestion which had been made to refer this matter to a Royal Commission, observed that he was not prepared at once to adopt that course; but if the Bill were now read a second time and referred to a Select Committee, and if that Committee recommended the issuing of a Royal Commission, he should then be prepared to accede to it.
§ LORD CLONCURRYbelieved the Bill, if passed, would be most disastrous to the agricultural interests of Ireland.
§ Amendment (by leave of the House) withdrawn; Then the original Motion, agreed to; Bill read 2a accordingly, and committed; the Committee to be proposed by the Committee of Selection.