§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading, read.
§ LORD MACNAGHTEN, in moving that the Bill be now read a second time, said, its object was to remedy a defect in the existing law with respect to prohibiting trawling within a given area. The Bill provided that if two-thirds of the registered owners of fishing boats in a given area made a representation to the Fishery Inspectors with the view of having trawling prohibited within that area, the Fishery Inspectors might make an order prohibiting trawling there if they thought fit, and in case the Fishery Inspectors refused to comply with the prayer of the representation, the registered owners might petition the Lord Lieutenant, who might himself make the order.
§ Moved, "That the Bill be now read 2a."—(The Lord Macnaghten.)
§ THE LORD PRIVY SEAL (Earl CADOGAN)said, the object of the Bill 727 was wholly unobjectionable; but he should suggest that in Committee on the Bill the appeal should be, not to the Lord Lieutenant, but to the Lord Lieutenant in Council.
§ LORD FITZGERALDsaid, he was strongly opposed to the Bill on the ground that it would empower the Fishery Commissioners, without any inquiry, to make an order on the representation of two-thirds of the owners of fishing boats in a given district, which might seriously affect the interests of others. Unless important Amendments were made in Committee he should strongly oppose the Bill.
§ THE MARQUESS OF WATERFORDthought the Government were responsible for selecting the best men to fill the position of Fishery Inspectors. That being so, he believed it was an objectionable thing to provide by this Bill that the Lord Lieutenant, without any inquiry, should be empowered to set aside any decision they might arrive at on the subject if a representation was made by the fishermen of the locality with regard to the prohibition of trawling.
§ LORD MACNAGHTENsaid, he was unable to think that the noble Lords who objected to this Bill could have fully acquainted themselves with its provisions. At present the Lord Lieutenant could over-rule the decisions of the Fisheries Inspectors, and there was, therefore, no change in that respect.
§ Motion agreed to; Bill read 2a accordingly.
§ House adjourned at Five o'clock, till To-morrow, a quarter past Ten o'clock.