Lords Sitting of 5 March 1895

WILD BIRDS PROTECTION ACT, 1880, AMENDMENT BILL.
THE EARL OF JERSEY, in moving that this Bill be read a second time, said that it was brought in at the instance of the Middlesex County Council, and the object of it was to amend the Act of 1880, under which the Secretary of State had power to declare a close time during which wild birds should not be shot, by enlarging the time mentioned in the Act. The county of Middlesex suffered greatly from eruptions of a certain class of sportsmen, who went out on Saturdays and Sundays and shot birds in the hedgerows, to the great inconvenience, and even to the danger, of the inhabitants. The effect of the Bill would be to give the Secretary of State power, on a County Council passing a resolution with that object, to extend the close time beyond the breeding season. He understood that the Government approved of the general object of the Bill, subject to certain Amendments to be moved in Committee. The promoters of the Bill would be only too glad to adopt any Amendment which would make the Bill easier to work, if the principle of the measure met with the approval of the House.
Bill read 2a.

SOLICITORS (IRELAND) BILL.
LORD MACNAGHTEN, in moving that the Bill be read a second time, said that it had been introduced at the instance of the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland, and the object of the Bill was to assimilate the law relating to solicitors in Ireland to that which prevailed in England. In Ireland the governing Act was the Act of I860, which was founded on the English Act of 1860; but the English Act had been amended since in many
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particulars in which improvements had been made in the law. The intention of this measure was to place the profession in Ireland on the same footing as the profession in England with regard to the qualifications, admission, and discipline; and the Bill consisted almost entirely of details with which he should not be justified in troubling their Lordships; in fact, it consolidated the provisions of the English law and applied them to Ireland. If the Bill were read a second time, it would be reasonable to allow a sufficient period to elapse before the Committee stage in order to enable those who were interested to make themselves acquainted with the details. He had brought in the Bill with the concurrence of Lord Ashbourne and Lord Morris, who had promised to give him every assistance in carrying it.
LORD ASHBOURNEsaid, he was entirely in favour of the Second Reading of the Bill, and hoped it would become law without any delay. The solicitor profession in Ireland, as in England, were represented by an Incorporated Law Society, and that was represented by a council composed of the leading men of the profession, men who were sincerely anxious to promote its honour, to secure its dignity, and to serve and advance the cause of public justice. This Bill merely sought to obtain for the profession in Ireland the privileges and rights which had long been enjoyed by their brethren in England; and he was satisfied that if it passed into law it would be found to be, on the whole, a most advantageous measure.
THE LORD CHANCELLOR (LORD HERSCHELL), said the Irish Government had no objection to this Bill. It seemed reasonable to assimilate; in the manner proposed the law of the two countries.
Bill read 2a

DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE BILL.
Passed through Committee and reported without Amendment.
House adjourned at Fifteen minutes to Five o'clock.