§ Order of the Day for the House to be put into Committee read.
LORD BALFOURsaid, he wished to know why it was thought necessary to give to the Parochial Boards the powers contained in the 1st clause of the Bill? It was, no doubt, the case when the powers of the Prison Boards of the various counties of Scotland expired, that it was necessary somebody should be put in their place to have the power formerly possessed by them of petitioning for the variation of the different districts into which Scotland was divided for the administration of the Lunacy Acts. It seemed to him, however, that the body more nearly representing the old Prison Boards were the Commissioners of Supply in counties or the magistrates in burghs. He should like to know why it was proposed to give the same power of petitioning to such a very small body as the Parochial Board? There were a great many such Boards interested in any lunacy district, and the reason for the proposal did not seem very plain.
THE EARL OF ROSEBERYsaid, his noble Friend who had charge of the Bill (the Earl of Dalhousie) was not in his place; therefore, the Committee stage would be postponed until Monday, to give an opportunity for the question to be answered.
§ Committee put off to Monday next.
§ House adjourned at a quarter past Six o'clock, till To-morrow, a quarter past Ten o'clock.