HL Deb 06 August 1872 vol 213 cc549-50

Order of the Day for receiving the Report of the Amendments, read.

Moved, "That the said Report be now received."—(The Earl of Morley.)

Motion agreed to.

LORD REDESDALE

moved an Amendment having for its object to prevent any town council from promoting a Bill for the compulsory purchase of waterworks or gasworks. He said much vexation was caused to gas companies and water companies by town corporations who wanted to get possession of their property.

THE EARL OF KIMBERLEY

submitted that in these days, when uniformity in the management of public undertakings was thought so desirable, it would be unwise to insert in an Act of Parliament a Proviso to prevent a town council from promoting a Bill for the compulsory purchase of gasworks or waterworks. Parliament would take care that such Bills were passed only in proper cases.

LORD REDESDALE

said, he would withdraw his Amendment, because at that time there was no hope of carrying it against the wish of the Government.

Amendment, by leave of the House, withdrawn.

LORD REDESDALE

said, he had another Amendment to propose, and its object was to put an end to what he regarded as an abuse. The members of local Governing Bodies were very fond of coming to Parliament to promote or oppose Private Bills, because it gave them an opportunity of visiting London at the expense of the ratepayers of their locality. He would move the insertion of a clause to the effect that no expenses incurred by any member of a local Governing Body on account of attendance on Parliament in promoting or opposing any Bill, or any payment to any such member for acting as counsel or agent in promoting or opposing any Bill, should be charged to the public funds administered by such body.

THE EARL OF MORLEY

said, he could not consent to the first portion of the Amendment, because when any member of one of those bodies attended as a deputation to watch the progress of Bills, it must be presumed that the constituents of the body of which he was a member approved such attendance. To the latter part of the Amendment, providing against payment out of the funds of the body to any of its members who acted as counsel or agent before a Parliamentary Committee, the Government would give their assent.

Motion agreed to.

Amendment, as amended, agreed to.

Further Amendments made; and Bill to be read 3aTo-morrow.