§ THE EARL OF RANFURLY,in moving the Second Reading of this Bill, said it proposed to give power to the Local Government Board of Ireland to lower the franchise for the election of dispensary committees in that country. Under the law as it at present stood the property qualification for members of dispensary committees in Ireland, who were not elected or ex-officio guardians, was "£30 at the least." In consequence of this high qualification some of the most eligible ratepayers in some dispensary districts were disqualified from acting on their local committees. The property qualification for Poor Law 1125 guardian in Ireland has been reduced to £8, and might be still further reduced by the Local Government Board for Ireland; and the object aimed at in the present Bill was to enable the Local Government Board to reduce the property qualification for members of any dispensary committee in Ireland, whenever it might appear to them advisable to do so. The Bill was not a Government Measure; but it had the sympathy of the Irish Government.
§ Read 2a (according to Order), and committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Friday next.