HC Deb 30 June 1857 vol 146 cc630-1

Order read, for resuming Adjourned Debate upon Amendment proposed to be made to Question [23rd June], "That the Bill be now read a second time;" and which Amendment was, to leave out the word "now," and at the end of the Question to add the words "upon this day six months."

Question again proposed, "That the word 'now' stand part of the Question."

Debate resumed.

MR. COX

said, the Metropolitan Board of Works had accepted the Vote of the House, on the last occasion this Bill was discussed, as a refusal to grant the £50,000 towards the construction of the park; but that the Board had, nevertheless, determined to proceed with the Bill, and to tax the whole of the metropolis for the expenses. He hoped, therefore, that as the present Bill had nothing in it respecting the grant of the £50,000, the hon. Member for Lambeth (Mr. Williams) would withdraw his opposition.

MR. W. WILLIAMS

said, that the feeling of the House appeared to be decidedly against the grant of public money for Finsbury Park. Under present circumstances, however, he would ask leave to withdraw his Amendment.

MR. SOTHERON ESTCOURT

said, he was glad the matter had been so arranged, but he would take the liberty of suggesting that in the case of these improvement Bills a graduated scale of taxation might be adopted, so that those parts of the metropolis which received the greatest benefit should bear the larger amount of the burden.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Main Question put, and agreed to.

Bill read 2°, and committed.