(NO. 30.) SECOND READING. (Hansard, 5 March 1866)

§ EARL GRANVILLE
My Lords, I beg leave to move the second reading of this Bill; and I may state that, if agreeable to your Lordships, I shall afterwards move the Suspension of the Standing Orders that it may pass as rapidly as possible. The Bill is very simple in character. It places in the hands of the Lord Lieutenant and Privy Council of Ireland the power which has been exercised by the Privy Council in this country with reference to the cattle plague. It is perhaps unnecessary for me to explain the Bill further, because almost all the clauses deal with this one point. The cattle plague has at present not visited Ireland; but we think it better that the authority this Bill proposes to confer should be in existence, and I hope it may contribute to preserve Ireland from the immunity it at present enjoys.

§ THE EARL OF DERBY
I do not suppose any opposition will be offered to the second reading of the Bill, and for my own part I have no objection to the suspension of the Standing Orders in order to enable it to pass; but I think there is some difference between this Bill and the one having reference to England, already passed. If I understand rightly compensation is to be charged by this Bill upon the general rate of the whole country, and not upon a single union. That provision is different from the principle of the English Bill. I think it a just one, but I ask if it is an accurate distinction which I have drawn?

§ EARL GRANVILLE
said, the noble Earl had correctly stated the provisions of the Bill.

LORD DUNSANY
proposed to introduce a clause into the Bill, when in Committee, with reference to the traffic of cattle in steamers and other vessels.

THE EARL OF BELMORE
said, that whilst he quite agreed with the spirit of the Amendment of his noble Friend, he thought it would be better not to insert it in a Bill of this sort, which did not profess to deal with details but gave powers to execute them to the Lord Lieutenant and Privy Council of Ireland. The Lord Lieutenant had appointed a committee, of which Lord Naas was chairman, to inquire into the Subject of the cattle plague, and although in the report of that committee this matter (of the drovers) had not been touched on, it had been considered. He learnt that a sub-committee of that body had waited on the officials of the steamboat companies in Dublin on the subject, and that the companies were willing to do all they could in the matter. They would refuse to convey any drovers who had free passes, but they could not by law refuse to take any who offered to pay their fares as ordinary passengers. There would be practical difficulties in the way, and he thought it best to leave the matter in the hands of the Lord Lieutenant and Privy Council.

§ EARL STANHOPE
wished to know why a different mode of charging the compensation for slaughtered cattle was adopted in Ireland and in England?

§ EARL GRANVILLE
was understood to say that the provisions of the present Bill had been adopted in deference to the general wish of those who took an interest in the subject in Ireland.