HL Deb 26 July 1881 vol 263 cc1890-1

House in Committee (according to order).

Clauses 1 and 2 agreed to.

Clause 3 (Remuneration of Coroner).

THE EARL OF LIMERICK

said, he desired to move an Amendment in the clause, the object of which was to give power to increase the salaries given to Coroners from time to time. The principle of the clause as it now stood was to fix salaries in perpetuity; and he did not think that it was desirable that such a course should be adopted, but that there should be a power in some authority to revise them. His Amendment would amount to giving a power of revision to some authority, instead of fixing the salaries on the amount of fees and allowances which the Coroners were entitled to receive. He did not wish to interfere with the progress of the Bill, but desired simply to bring this matter under the attention of Her Majesty's Government, as he felt strongly that there should be some power of revising these salaries.

Amendment moved, in page 2, line 3, after ("coroner"), to insert ("in office on the passing of this Act.")—(The Earl of Limerick.)

THE EARL OF CORK

said, he thought there was a great deal in what the noble Earl (the Earl of Limerick) had said with respect to the necessity of having some power of revising the salaries of Coroners from time to time, and he believed that a power to make such revision existed in England and was vested in the Magistrates. The Amendment, however, proposed by the noble Earl proposed that the power should be vested in the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. He (the Earl of Cork) believed that the Lord Lieutenant had no power to interfere with the local taxation in Ireland, and, therefore, it would not be proper to invest such a power in the Lord Lieutenant. If the noble Earl would withdraw the Amendment, he would consider whether he could not bring up an Amendment at the next stage of the Bill to meet the object sought to be attained by the present Amendment.

THE EARL OF LIMERICK

said, he was quite satisfied with the promise of the noble Earl, and would withdraw the Amendment.

Amendment (by leave of the Committee) withdrawn.

Remaining clauses agreed to.

Bill reported without Amendment; and to be read 3a on Thursday next.