§ This Bill was on the list of Private Bills, but the Chairman of Committees having failed to refer to it.
§ THE EARL OF LEITRIMrose to Order. As the Bill was on the Paper for second reading, he objected to its being passed over without any Notice of its postponement having been given to its promoters.
§ THE EARL OF REDESDALE (CHAIRMAN of COMMITTEES)said, that he had examined the Bill, and thinking that it was one which should not pass without further consideration he had thought it well to defer the second reading.
§ THE EARL OF LEITRIMsaid, he thought the question as to whether or not the Bill was one which should not be read a second time was for the judgment of their Lordships. The measure had been before the noble Earl (the Earl of Redesdale), and the noble Earl had admitted in the most candid manner that he believed the Bill was promoted by Trinity College. He did not think that a greater compliment could be paid to the promoters of a Bill than to say that it was one framed by the 48 Corporation at which it might be supposed to strike. This matter had been brought under the notice of Parliament on previous occasions, four years ago and last year; and the promoters were told that a Royal Commission would not be granted to inquire into the subject, but that some other means of ventilating it would be taken.
§ THE EARL OF REDESDALE (CHAIRMAN of COMMITTEES)pointed out that the measure—which, it was true, he had at first supposed to be promoted by Trinity College—proposed to make alterations in the law between landlord and tenant in behalf of some tenants of Trinity College. It would, in its present form, open the doors to the introduction of most dangerous interference with the public law by private legislation. Time, he thought, should be taken for further consideration before reading the Bill a second time.
§ THE EARL OF LEITRIMcontended that the faults the Chairman of Committees conceived to exist in the Bill were questions for consideration in Committee. The Bill had been promoted because an inquiry by that House, whether by a Royal Commission or a Select Committee, had been refused on more than one occasion. They now sought to get the subject of the Bill inquired into with a view to legislation, or to have it shown to them that they had no case for legislation. They had no option but to endeavour to obtain what they desired by promoting this Bill. He was afraid that the action taken that afternoon was a gagging process, resulting from Trinity College getting hold of his noble Friend the Chairman of Committees. The Chairman of Committees had reported in favour of this Bill.
§ THE EARL OF LEITRIMsaid, that Trinity College had pushed matters to an extreme, and there was such a thing even as an Irish tenant becoming exasperated. They had been agitating this matter for four years, and it was now for their Lordships to terminate a very unseemly wrangle between Trinity College and its tenants. Trinity College had divisions in its own camp. Only recently a tenant had gone before the Board, and the majority had agreed to reduce the rents. The Provost, however, had put his veto on the matter, and 49 stopped the reduction. He did not wish to weary their Lordships with these details; but if they did not come before a Committee of the House how were they to be settled? He would move that the Bill be read a second time.
§ Moved, "That the Bill be now read 2a":—(The Earl of Leitrim.)
§ LORD FITZGERALDsaid, he thought it would be well to postpone the second reading, so as to see whether that which was objectionable in the Bill could not be removed.
§ THE EARL OF LEITRIMI will agree to that course.
§ Motion (by leave of the House) withdrawn.
§ Second Reading postponed till Thursday next.