HC Deb 30 July 1857 vol 147 cc702-4

Order for Committee read;

House in Committee.

Clause 24 to 36 agreed to; Clause 37 struck out; Remaining Clauses agreed to.

THE LORD ADVOCATE moved to add a Clause to exempt the counties of Orkney and Shetland from the operation of the Bill.

MR. STIRLING

objected to the exemption, He could see no reason for it.

MR. DUNDAS

said, he should support the clause, as there was no necessity for a police force in those poor and sequestered districts.

MR. CRAWFURD

said, if these islands were exempted from the Bill, they would become a regular asylum for criminals.

SIR EDWARD COLEBROOKE

remarked that he also should support the clause. A police force might be necessary in one or two islands, but a number of them were so small as not to require it, and ought not to be taxed for the benefit of the others. Criminals might cross the water to these islands, but they would find nothing when they got there.

THE LORD ADVOCATE

said, the ground of exemption was that from the insular position of the islands there was less necessity for an organized force for the repression of crime. He would not, however press the clause against the wish of the Committee.

Clause withdrawn.

Clause A.

THE LORD ADVOCATE moved a Clause to exempt police horses and police vans from toll on roads, bridges, and ferries.

Clause brought up and read 1°.

MR. MACKIE

objected; there were already too many exemptions from tolls in Scotland.

Question put "That the Clause be read a second time."

The Committee divided:—Ayes 58; Noes 0: Majority 58.

Clause added to the Bill.

Other Clauses added.

Clause D, regulating the mode of assessment for the purpose of the Act, brought up and read 1° 2°.

MR. STIRLING

said, he should move an Amendment, to the effect that the tenant and proprietor of lands should pay equal portions of assessment. He thought the tenant should be liable to this payment, as the establishment of a police was quite as much for his benefit as for the benefit of the landlord.

Amendment proposed, in page 11, line 17, to leave out from ''may be levied" to "him," in line 20, and insert "shall be levied in equal portions on the proprietor and tenant of all such lands and heritages."

THE LORD ADVOCATE

said, that the proposition did not appear to him to be of very much importance, still he said he was anxious to ascertain the wishes of hon. Members upon that point. In the Bill, as it was originally framed, it was provided that the whole charge should fall on the tenant, but by a change introduced into the measure it was laid down that all should be borne by the landlord. In any case he thought it was clear that the landlord would in the end have to make an allowance to the tenant for the payment. On the whole he thought it best to leave the clause as it stood.

COLONEL SYKES

said, he conceived that the Amendment would only tend to complicate the matter. If the burden were thrown on the tenant, he would have to make an arrangement with his landlord for the repayment.

SIR WILLIAM DUNBAR

said, he should support the Amendment. By the Bill power was given to boroughs to consolidate with counties for police purposes. In many Scotch boroughs the assessment was entirely levied on the tenant, and, in the event of consolidation taking place, the entire burden would by the present Bill be taken off the shoulders of the tenant and thrown on the landlord, unless the Amendment were adopted.

Question put, "That the word proposed to be left out stand part of the Clause."

The Committee divided:—Ayes 57; Noes 16: Majority 41.

Clause agreed to.

Clause, (Her Majesty in Council, on the representation of Burghs, to arrange terms of consolidation with Counties,) brought up.

SIR JOHN OGILVY

said, he would propose an Amendment to omit the latter part of the clause, making it lawful for Her Majesty, with the advice of her Council, to vary from time to time the terms of consolidation.

Amendment proposed, In page 24, line 17, to leave out from "Act" to the end of the Clause, and insert "That it shall not be lawful for either party to alter or put an end to such consolidation in the manner hereinbefore provided till after the expiring of two years from the date of such consolidation.

Question put, "That the words proposed to be left out stand part of the Clause."

The Committee divided:—Ayes 79; Noes 12: Majority 67.

Clause agreed to.

House resumed.

Bill reported, with Amendments; as amended, to be considered on Monday next.

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