HC Deb 06 August 1857 vol 147 cc1207-8

Order for Third Reading read.

Motion made, and Question proposed,

"That the Bill be now read the third time."

MR. AYRTON

said, an explanation had been promised at the second and third stages of this Bill, but now they were arrived at the fourth stage, and no ex- planation had been given. He therefore moved that the House be adjourned.

Motion made, and Question proposed,

"That this House do now adjourn."

MR. MASSEY

said, it was a mere departmental Bill to give powers to borrow money for building stations; and a portion of the Bill was to put a portion of the expense of the police, so far as the police was used for general rather than for mere metropolitan purposes, on the Consolidated Fund. A contribution of £60,000 had hitherto been made from the Consolidated Fund, but the present Bill was to put an additional proportion not exceeding one-fourth of these expenses upon the Consolidated Fund. A third provision was to give power to lay rates on suburban districts as an equivalent for the protection that they enjoyed, and provisions to make up the deficiency in the superannuation fund.

MR. AYRTON

said, after this explanation he wished to ask the opinion of Mr. Speaker on a point of order. It appeared that this Bill was to create a charge on the Consolidated Fund, and as there had been no Resolution in Committee of the Whole House to make this charge on the Consolidated Fund, he asked the Speaker whether they were in order in passing the third reading of the Bill?

MR. SPEAKER

said, this was a matter which was new to him. With such consideration as he was enabled to give to it, which he could not pretend to say was as perfect as it might be if he had had more time to consider it, it did not appear to him, as far as he could judge on reading the clause, that the preliminary Committee was necessary.

MR. HENLEY

said, under these circumstances, he thought they ought to postpone the third reading.

Motion and Original Question, by leave, withdrawn.

Third Reading deferred till To-morrow, at Twelve o'clock.