§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading, read.
§ *LORD MONKS WELL, in moving the Second Reading of the Bill, said it applied only to the Municipality of Dublin, and it proposed to ex tend the protection now afforded to debtors owing £10 and less to debtors owing £20 and less. The principal Act of 1888 referred to in the Bill placed certain restrictions on the levying of distress and execution, intended to prevent fraud or hardship. Clauses 3 and 4 of this Act extended those restrictions to debtors owing up to £20. Clause 5 merely doubled the maximum payment to be made to bailiffs. He might mention that, like the Act of 1888, this Bill was introduced at the urgent request of the Recorder of Dublin, and it had been agreed to by members of every political denomination.
§ Moved, "That the Bill be now read 2a." —(The Lord Monkswell.)
§ *LORD ASHBOURNEMy Lords, I believe the noble Lord who is in charge of this Bill has stated with accuracy its provisions; and I know from a communication I have received from the Recorder of Dublin—one of the most respected of the Judges in Ireland— that the Bill has practically emanated from his own suggestions. I believe it is calculated to materially ameliorate hardships which are now found to exist. Motion agreed to; Bill read 2a accordingly, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Monday next.