HL Deb 13 August 1885 vol 301 cc1-3

Commons' Amendments considered (according to Order).

Page 1, line 13, leave out from ("duty") to end of Clause, and insert— ("Provided, that in eases to which the said recited Act is extended by this Act, the person convicted shall not he liable to a greater penalty than five pounds, or, in default of payment, to be imprisoned with or without hard labour for a longer term than two months,") —the first Amendment, agreed to.

After Clause 2, insert the following clause:—

(Application of Act.)

"CLAUSE (A.) This Act shall not apply to Ireland,"

—the next Amendment.

THE EARL OF MILLTOWN

said, this measure presented an admirable instance of the perfection to which the system of absolute block had been carried in the other House. The Bill, which consisted of two clauses only, had received both this year and last the unanimous assent of their Lordships; but though it went down to the other House early this Session its progress was delayed, there till the day before yesterday, owing to the objection of one hon. and learned Member, with whom ultimately he had had to effect a compromise. The object of the measure was simply to extend to cases of obstructing the police in the execution of their duty the provision of the Prevention of Crimes Act which gave summary jurisdiction to magistrates in eases of assaults on the police which were not of a sufficiently serious character to warrant their being sent for trial. He now begged to move that their Lordships disagree with the clauses excluding Ireland from the operation of the Bill. The clause was inserted in the Bill on the suggestion of Mr. Healy at an early hour in the morning. There were many people in Ireland who were anxious for the Bill to apply to that part of the Kingdom, and there was no reason at all why it should not.

Moved, "That this House doth disagree with the Commons in the said Amendment."—(The Earl of Milltown.)

Motion agreed to.

A Committee appointed to prepare Reasons to be offered to the Commons for the Lords disagreeing to the said Amendment: The Committee to meet forthwith.

Subsequently,

Report from the Committee of the Reasons to be offered to the Commons for the Lords disagreeing to one of the Amendments made by the Commons to the said Bill; read, and agreed to: And a message sent to the Commons to return the said Bill, with the Amendment and Reasons.