HL Deb 21 July 1868 vol 193 cc1549-50

House in Committee (according to Order).

LORD REDESDALE

objected to the compensation clause, which their Lordships had struck out of former Bills, and the re-introduction of which created expectations on the part of officers of trusts that some provision would be made for them when the trusts expired. The officers included solicitors and surveyors who ought to have no difficulty in finding employment in place of that lost by the cessation of a trust.

A noble LORD said that surveyors, who must have been ten years in the service to entitle them to compensation, and who in some cases might lose employment altogether, were entitled to some consideration.

After a few words from The Earl of STRADBROKE,

THE EARL OF KIMBERLEY

said, he thought there was reason for giving surveyors compensation, for in many cases great credit was due to them for getting trusts out of debt.

LORD CLINTON

said, there was some force in the distinction which had been drawn between the surveyors and other officers of turnpike trusts. Many of the surveyors were employed exclusively in the service of their trusts, derived their whole income from them, and some of them had reached an age when it would be difficult for them to turn their hands to any other occupation if deprived of their offices. This compensation clause which they were now considering was first introduced into a continuance Act in the year. 1866, and was then rejected by their Lordships; it was again introduced as a part of the Government measure in 1867 when it was again rejected; and it now appeared for the third time, inserted into the Bill by a private Member during its progress through the other House and not objected to by the Government. It was not perhaps a subject which was likely to lead to a collision between the two Houses, but the other House had shown itself sufficiently in earnest on the subject to induce their Lordships, he hoped, to give on this occasion a more favourable consideration to the clause.

(In the Committee.)

LORD REDESDALE

said, that he would move an Amendment on the compensation clause on the Report.

An Amendment made: The Report thereof to be received on Thursday next.

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