SECOND READING. (Hansard, 23 May 1884)

THE EARL OF BELMORE
, whose name stood on the Paper to move the second reading, said he would ask leave to postpone it till after the Holidays. The intention of the Bill—not very obvious on the face of it—was to prevent the removal of a large number of poor persons back to Ireland from the North of England and (Scotland, as the present system was attended with very great inconveniences. He had only taken charge of the Bill on behalf of a noble Friend (Viscount Lifford); and since he had come down to the House to-day he had received a telegram from his noble Friend, saying that he had just heard the Bill was to be opposed, and asking him to postpone it.

THE DUKE OF RICHMOND AND GORDON
said, he thought his noble Friend (the Earl of Belmore) had exercised a wise discretion in asking their Lordships to postpone the second reading; and he would have acted still more wisely if he had postponed it for six months, as many of its provisions were objectionable. The present law was that a residence of five years gave a settlement; but the Bill contained a provision which would make one year's residence sufficient to give a settlement, and that would be an alteration affecting England and Scotland most prejudicially. He thought that was a change in the existing law which would require very grave consideration on the part of their Lordships before it could be adopted.

THE EARL OF LONGFORD
said, he could not accept the description given by the noble Duke (the Duke of Richmond and Gordon) as the unanimous description of their Lordships. He thought that the Bill invited more favourable consideration.

§ THE EARL OF REDESDALE (CHAIRMAN of COMMITTEES)
said, that the Bill was inconsistent in that it made one 1156 year's residence in England and Scotland sufficient to acquire a settlement; but the Bill did not apply to Ireland, so that natives of England and Scotland who went to Ireland would not acquire a settlement there in one year.

THE EARL OF LONGFORD
said, that no one of the class referred to would go to Ireland to reside there, or obtain a settlement who could possibly help it.

LORD ORANMORE AND BROWNE
said, there was no question as to Ireland being excluded from the operations of the Bill. In that country relief could be obtained anywhere without acquiring a settlement, for a poor person was entitled to, and got it, wherever he might be.