§ [SECOND READING.]
§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
§ LORD MACDONNELL OF SWINFORDMy Lords, this is a Bill to discharge certain 845 surcharges made upon the accounts of the Municipal Corporation of Dublin. It was introduced into the House of Commons and has passed through all its stages there. It was backed by the four Members of the City of Dublin, and no objection to it was raised in the other House by His Majesty's Government. On the contrary, one clause —Clause 2 (Payment of auditor's costs)—was inserted in the Bill at the instance of the Irish Government. Whether your Lordships think it desirable at this late hour that I should give a detailed justification of a Bill which comes to you with these credentials I am unable to say; but if your Lordships desire that I should enter into a detailed statement I am quite ready to do so.
§ Moved, That the Bill be now read 2a.—(Lord MacDonnell Swinford.)
§ On Question, Bill read 2a and committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Tuesday next.