§ Lord J. Russell moved the Order of the Day for the consideration of the Lords' amendments to the Municipal Corporations Act Amendment (England and Wales) Bill.
§ The noble Lord observed with respect to this Bill that it was most desirable, considering the pressing nature of the case, and the great length of time the Bill had already been before Parliament, that a measure of a nature similar to the present should pass in the present Session. For that reason he should propose that the Lords' amendments to the Bill should be agreed to as far as it was possible to consent to them, and he should only therefore oppose those parts to which he felt it impossible to agree. The first amendment in which he could not concur was that which provided that the councillor assessed to the largest amount of poor-rates should be the person to preside at the election of councillors in the different wards. He could not consent to the principle that the largest rate-payer should in all cases be the presiding councillor, but, acting under the desire that the measure should pass with as little delay as possible, he should not propose to strike 1382 out the clause, but only to amend it by providing that the councillors from amongst themselves should elect the presiding councillor, and that only in cases of disagreement the largest rate-payer should be selected.
§ Mr. Brothertondoubted much whether the principle of selecting the largest ratepayer was a good one; and he knew a case when the person who was assessed to the largest amount of rates in a borough was unable to write his name.
§ Mr. Bernalagreed with the opinion expressed by the hon. Member for Salford (Mr. Brotherton), but as they could not force others to take the same views as themselves, and as it was desirable the measure should pass, their object ought to be to have it passed in the least injurious shape possible.
§ Amendment agreed to, as were several other amendments.
§ Lord J. Russellcould not agree to the clauses inserted by the other House regarding the auditing of the accounts. The board of auditors had stated various reasons why they could not perform in a satisfactory manner the duties which would be required from them, should such a provision be continued in the Bill; and he thought, when their Lordships were made acquainted with those reasons, they would see sufficient cause for altering the clauses which had been inserted. It was stated that if this new duty was thrown upon the board of audit, a great additional expense would necessarily be incurred; and that in fact, a new department would require to be established. For these reasons he would propose that clauses T and U be left out.
§ Motion agreed to.
§ Other amendments were agreed to, and on the motion of Lord J. Russell a Committee was appointed to draw up reasons for disagreeing to certain amendments of the Lords.