THE EARL OF MEATHsaid he had intended to move the rejection of the clause. His objection to it was that it substituted "one hundred yards" for "two hundred yards" as the distance from a dwelling-house within which no part of a cemetery might be constructed without the consent of the owner, lessee, and occupier of the house. The object of the clause was apparently to equalise contradictory legislation; that was a very excellent purpose and one which he would have supported if it had been proposed to substitute 200 yards for 100. His contention was that the Bill if it became law would encourage local authorities to do what was exactly opposite to public opinion and scientific experience. The trend of public opinion within the last four years had been to get rid of cemeteries and burial grounds in towns and suburban districts, and he protested against the great experience of sanitary experts being ignored in this matter. His noble friend in charge of the Bill, with his usual courtesy, had told him that the Government had no desire or intention that the Bill should have any connection with Ireland, and consequently he would not press his Motion.
§ Clause 2 agreed to.
§ Bill reported with Amendments: Standing Committee negatived: Then (Standing Order No. XXXIX. having 975 been suspended), Bill read 3a, with the Amendments, and passed, and returned to the Commons.