Mr. Hobhousesaid, he did not wish to divide the House on this bill, but begged the noble Lord to postpone his motion for the second reading till the parties interested had had an opportunity of knowing something of the bill. Besides, a public committee was now sitting upon Select Vestries, and it might be well to wait for their Report on the subject.
Mr. Wardsaid, there had been a lawsuit in the parish, and it was necessary to determine upon some mode of settling these parochial differences.
Sir T. Freemantlewas of opinion that the state of the parish required the immediate interposition of Parliament. The parish was in debt to the amount of 10,000l., and a further sum of 5,000l. would be required to carry on the parish concerns till Lady-day. In consequence of the disputes between the Vestry and the Churchwardens, it was found impossible to collect the rates. The Vestry had 2,800l. in their own hands, but that sum would last, only a very short time. Owing to the unsettled state of the parish, 6,000l. arrears of poor-rates could not be collected. He was a member of the Committee alluded to by the hon. Member for Westminster, and entertained hopes that some plan might be struck out for the management of all these parishes. However, he should support the second reading of the bill, which, he trusted, would remove 1147 some of the grounds of difference at present existing in the parish. It was not fair to say that parties were taken by surprise: due notice had been given of the Bill.
Lord J. Russelldeclined postponing his motion, on the ground that the Bill would be advantageous to the parish.
§ The Bill was read a second time, and committed.