§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading, read.
LORD INCHIQUIN, in moving that the Bill be now read the second time, said, its purpose was to empower the Irish Church Synod to raise the fees for marriage licences in Ireland from a sum not exceeding 5s. to a sum not exceeding 20s. in such cases as might be thought necessary. The measure had received the sanction of the Irish Church Synod and of the Primate of Ireland; the latter stating that he saw no ground for the fear which had been expressed that the raising of the marriage licence fees would tend to drive persons to be married by the Registrar.
§ Moved, "That the Bill be now read 2a."—(The Lord Inchiquin.)
THE LORD CHANCELLORsaid, he was afraid that the Bill, if passed as it stood, would incline the poorer classes in Ireland to prefer the cheaper ceremony of marriage by the Registrar to the more expensive religious ceremony. He suggested that the noble Lord should withdraw the measure for the present Session, with the view of its receiving further 155 consideration and amendment before it was re-introduced.
§ Motion and Bill (by leave of the House) withdrawn.