§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading, read.
§ LORD MACNAGHTENMy Lords, the object of this Bill, which has passed the House of Commons, is to prevent the recurrence of some difficulties which arise in the collection of the Poor Rate in Ireland. The rate is made several times a year, and the person to pay it is the person in occupation at that time, 1463 and that person remains liable, although he may have ceased to have anything to do with the premises. That is productive sometimes of great hardship, and this Bill proposes to give Boards of Guardians power to determine in their discretion whether a person in those circumstances is or is not liable, and in that case the person who has subsequently become tenant is liable. That is the whole of the Bill, with the exception of a provision extending to Dublin.
§ Bill read 2a (according to order), and committed to the Standing Committee for Bills relating to Law, &c.