§ Order for Second Reading read.
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Bill be now read a second time."
§ MR. R. J. PHILLIMOREmoved, as an Amendment, that the Bill be read a second time that day six months. His ground for making the Motion was, that although the Bill came before the House as a private Bill, the subject with which it professed to deal was more of a public nature; and, although it professed for its object to provide church accommodation in Torquay, the first nine clauses were precisely the same as those of the Public Church Building Acts, and where the other clauses differed from those Acts they were intended to override those Acts. The patronage it conferred upon Sir Lawrence Palk and his heirs was most objectionable, for in return for their giving a stipend to the incumbents of the churches, which might be unlimited in number, they were to be the patrons of the churches, and the subscribers were to have no voice in it. Another provision enabled the levying of church rates in respect of every church erected—and, as he had stated, they might be unlimited in number—and another provided that the expenses of obtaining the Act should be provided for by mortgaging the pew-rents. He thought it a most unnecessary and objectionable Bill.
§ MR. HADFIELDseconded the Amendment, and said he had lodged a petition in the Bill Office against the Bill, signed by 5,000 of the inhabitants of Torquay.
Amendment proposed, to leave out the word "now," and at the end of the Question to add the words "upon this day six months."
Question proposed, "That the word 'now' stand part of the Question."
§ MR. BOUVERIEproposed to the House to adjourn the consideration of this Bill till Thursday next, in consequence of the absence of the hon. Baronet the Member for South Devon (Sir J. Y. Buller), who had charge of the Bill. The Bill was brought in at the instance of Sir Lawrence Palk and his son, who had large estates in the neighbourhood of Torquay, and who 485 thought it was desirable to build an additional church there; and they proposed to settle a rent-charge of 150l. a year as a stipend for the minister of the new church. There was, no doubt, a great similarity in the Bill to the Church Building Acts; but there was this difference, that the stipend of the minister having been provided for, instead of the first charge on the pewrents being for the stipend, this would be appropriated to pay the interest on the mortgage on which the money for building the church was raised. He moved that the debate be adjourned till Thursday next.
§ SIR J. SHELLEYsaid, that church accommodation was greatly needed at Torquay, and supported the Motion for the adjournment of the debate.
§ MR. R. J. PHILLIMOREexpressed his readiness to assent to the discussion being adjourned to Thursday, out of courtesy to the hon. Baronet the Member for South Devon.
§ MR. HADFIELDthought the Bill so objectionable, that he should press the House to a division.
Motion made, and Question put, "That the Debate be now adjourned."
The House divided:—Ayes 119; Noes 55: Majority 64.
Debate adjourned till Thursday.