Commons Sitting of 18 March 1806

MINUTES.
Mr. Stedmanfrom the Stamp Office, presented an account of the arrears and balances in the hands of the distributers on the 10th of Oct. 1805, and also on the 5th of Jan. 1806.—Mr. Shaw Lefevre presented a petition from the governors of St. Luke's Hospital, complaining of a surcharge which had been imposed upon them for servants who were indispensably necessary to the purposes of the hospital; and also, that the commissioners to whom they appealed had confirmed the said surcharge. The petitioners therefore prayed for the interposition of parliament. When the petition was read, Mr. Shaw Lefevre stated, that if the business were not taken up by government, he would take occasion to propose that all hospitals, and other charitable institutions, should be exempted from the operation of the Income Tax. The propriety of such an exemption was, he thought, forcibly suggested by the case stated in this petition.—Mr. H. Addington gave notice of a motion for tomorrow, relative to some orders on the books for the production of certain documents relative to India. The object of his motion he described to be this, that those who immediately presided over the affairs of India should be invested with a discretionary power, as in other cases, to withhold any of the documents, the production of which might appear to be injurious to the public service.

DUBLIN PAVING BILL.
Mr. W. Wynnebrought in a bill to amend an act, made in the last session, for appointing commissioners to enquire and examine into any irregularities and abuses which might have taken place in conducting and managing the paving, cleansing, and lighting the streets of Dublin, and for making several provisions relating thereto; and to

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suspend proceedings in certain actions or suits under the said act. Upon the motion for the first reading,
Mr. Alexandertook occasion to animadvert upon the conduct of lord Hardwicke towards the late Paving Board of Dublin. which was composed of respectable persons, but whose character had suffered much in public estimation in consequence of the measures taken by lord Hardwicke for the suspension of their powers. From this suspension an idea had gone abroad that they had been guilty of some malversation.
Mr. W. Wynnesaid, that lord Hardwicke had thought it his duty to institute an enquiry upon the subject referred to by the hon. member. The proceedings of the commission of enquiry would be speedily printed, and when laid before parliament would speak for itself. Lord Hardwicke had, pursuant to the act, granted the sum allowed to other commissioners, while the paving corporation was subject to enquiry, in order that the streets of Dublin should be kept in proper repair.
Mr. Longdid not conceive the case of the paving corporation at all prejudged or prejudiced by the course which lord Hardwicke had taken; that course struck him to be extremely proper.
Lord De Blaquierevindicated the conduct and character of the paving corporation, of which he described himself to be a member, and desired that any charge which could be alleged against them might be immediately brought forward.
Mr. Ormsbythought a slur was cast upon the character of the paving board, by the conduct of lord Hardwicke.— After some further remarks, the bill was read a first time.