The Sun.
London, England, 1856-04-17 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE 01? COMMONS.-(YESTERDAY.)

The SPEAKER took the chair at twelve o'clock.
The Gloucester Gas Bill was read a second time.
GRAVESEND IMPROVEMENT BILL.

Oa the motion of Mr. BROTHERTON this bill was
ordered to be recommitted.
Mr. E. BALL presented a petition signed by 291
shareholders in the Eastern Counties Railway, repre-
senting capital to the amount of 341,000/. in that un-
dertaking, praying the house not to sanctio❑ the
passing a bill for the purpose of raising illegal loans, and
extending the capital of the company by an addition to
t of three-quarters of a million.
The SPEAKER said the petition was informal, as it

related to a Private bill.
The petition was consequently withdrawn.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE QUALIFICATION

BILL.

The house then went ieto committee on this bill.
The preamble and clauses 1 and 2 were agreed to.
...

On clause 3,
Mr. HORSHAN moved to leave out the words "ex
tend only to England and Wales," and insert "not ex
tend to Scotland."
After a short discussion, the amendment wag agreed
to.

Clauses 4,5, and 6 were then agreed to.
On clause 7,
Mr. CHILD moved an amendment to this clause, at
line 10, to leave out the words "England and Wales,"
and insert "such county, riding, or division."
Mr. LLOYD DAVIES considered, if this amend•
ment were adopted, three-fourths of the magistrates
would be disqualified.
Mr. COLVILE hoped the house would resist the
amendment. No practical inconvenience would arise
from the clause as it now stood.
Mr. VANSITTART thought that if land to the
amount of 1001. would qualify for a justice of the peace,
the same should extend to Scotland and Ireland.
Mr. BAINES thought that the amendment of the
hon. gentleman would produce great inconvenience.
After a short discussion,
Mr. CHILD said as the amendment appeared to bo
considered an innovation of the law he would with-
draw it.

Mr. lIORSMAN then moved that, in line 6, after
" Wales," to insert " or within Ireland, as the case may
be."

Sir E. DERING moved tr) insert, instead of the
word "Ireland," the words "United Kingdom."
Mr. HORSMAN said he bad prepared an amendment,
which he intended to move, namely, that land in Ire-
land should not qualify for a magistrate in Eniland ;
and, on the other hand, land in England should not
qualify for the Irish magistracy.
Col. I)UNNE said the observations of the Chief
Secretary were rather peculiar. For instance, 3001. in
the Tipperary Bank—(laughter)—would be a sufficient
qualification, but 3001. in Tipperary itself would not be
considered sufficient qualification. (Laughter.)
After a short discussion the amendment was agreed to.
An amendment was than moved that the leasehold
qualification for the magistracy should be 18 years, as
the number of years that at present stood in the bill (30
years) would not meet the case of Ireland.
Mr. STAFFORD thought it better that the bill

should be confined to England, and a bill for Ireland
should be brought in.
Sir R. FERGUSSON said he thought the bill would
disqualify a great number of ♦ery useful persons in
Ireland.

Mr. HORSMAN said the bill would only disqualify
those persons in Ireland as well as in England who
were not entitled to act as a magistrate.
Sir J. TICOLLOPE said he thought they were losing
a great deal of very valuable time in discussing this
point. He thought it better to abolish the qualification
for the magistracy altogether rather than retain one
that was inefficient for the purpose.
Mr. DE VERE said the bill would not disqualify
anybody. It was proFpective, and not retrospective.
Mr. HENLEY said he thought the present discussion
showed the inconvenience of allowing a measure of such
importance as the present being introduced by a private
member. He thought, under all circumstances, it
would be best to exclude Ireland from the bill.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said
the Government was rot responsible for the bill, and
referred the hon. gentleman who had charge of the bill
to his (the Chancellor of the Exchequer's) opinion that
the bill would have a retrospective effset.
After a few words from Mr. COLVILE,
Mr. -VERNON said that the effect of the bill ap
peared to be involved in such doubt that he should
move that the Chairman report progress.
The committee then divided, when there appeared
Ayes
Noes
Majority —4l
Mr. FITZRO Y then left the chair and the house re-
sumed.