HL Deb 31 July 1888 vol 329 cc906-7

Order for the House to be put into Committee, read.

THE EARL OF MILLTOWN

remarked, that on the second reading of this Bill he had expressed his entire concurrence, and he had asked the noble and learned Lord (Lord Herschell) why the exemption contained in the Bill with regard to distress under £5 should not be extended to the whole of Ireland? The noble and learned Lord had been kind enough to say that he would consider that point, and he understood him to assent to the suggestion. As, however, he had not seen any Amendments to this effect, he had ventured to put some down on the Paper himself, to which he hoped the noble and learned Lord would assent. He understood that there was no objection on the part of Her Majesty's Government.

LORD HERSCHELL

said, he had borne in mind the point to which the noble Lord had called attention; but he had not felt himself competent to deal with the matter in this Bill, although, for his own part, he saw no reason why the section should not be extended to the whole of Ireland. He had, therefore, communicated with the noble Earl opposite as to the view of the Irish Government with regard to the matter, and Amendments would be put down upon the Report stage which, though considerable in number, would be for the most part verbal, the only object being to extend this provision to the whole of Ireland.

THE LORD PRIVY SEAL (Earl CADOGAN)

said, that in his opinion the object proposed by the noble and learned Lord was an extremely good one, and he could see no reason why the section could not be extended to the whole of Ireland. He did not understand whether the noble and learned Lord intended to agree to the Amendments proposed by the noble Earl.

LORD HERSCHELL

said, that the Amendments which would be brought forward upon the Report stage would be more extensive than those of the noble Earl.

EARL CADOGAN

thought that in that case the Report stage should be deferred till next week.

House in Committee (according to order); Amendments made: The Report thereof to be received on Friday next; and Bill to be printed as amended. (No 245.)