HL Deb 20 March 1918 vol 29 c544

Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.

THE LORD PRIVY SEAL (THE EARL OF CRAWFORD)

My Lords, this Bill assimilates the hours for the solemnisation of matrimony in Ireland with those in this country. At the present moment the Church of Ireland, Wesleyans, and Presbyterians in Ireland are limited to 2 o'clock in the afternoon, whereas in this country it is 3 o'clock. Roman Catholics, Jews, and Quakers, on the other hand, are not subject to such a limitation in Ireland, and the proposal in the Bill is that the hour should be generally extended to 3 o'clock. If the Bill is given a Second Reading I trust that your Lordships will allow it to pass through all its remaining stages to-morrow.

Moved, That the Bill be now read 2a.—(The Earl of Crawford.)

On Question, Bill read 2a.