HC Deb 23 July 1860 vol 160 cc77-8

Order for Committee read.

House in Committee.

(In the Committee.)

Clause 1 (Trustees may apply Portion of Grants towards Buildings and Repairs).

MR. NEWDEGATE

said, he wished to ask whether the Secretary for Ireland would object to insert a proviso relieving the Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland from the obligation of superintending the repairs of the College? It was not proposed to renew the annual Votes of that House for repairs; and as there were trustees and visitors of the College there ought, therefore, to be no necessity for interposing this superintendence of the Board of Works, which merely served, by dividing, to annul all responsibility.

MR. CARDWELL

said, that the Bill made arrangements for the trustees to make the repairs with the sanction of the Commissioners of the Treasury. After the passing of the Bill it would be optional with them to request the Commissioners of public works to do it or employ an architect of their own.

MR. NEWDEGATE

said, the right hon. Gentleman had not answered his question. Why should not the Board of Works be relieved from the duty of attending to the superintendence of these repairs, a task for the performance of which they had hitherto proved incompetent?

MR. CARDWELL

said, he had no objection to relieve them if the Committee thought it was of importance to do so.

MR. BUTT

said, by the Act passed in 1846 the Board of Works were to be Commissioners for the repair of the College of Maynooth. Parliament gave a pledge in that year that an annual Vote should be given for the repairs.

Clause agreed to.

Clause 2 (Commissioners of Public Works to advance Money on Security of Portion of Grant applied towards Buildings and Repairs).

MR. SPOONER

objected, that if that clause were passed money would be borrowed to be repaid in twenty-two years, the effect of which would be to prevent Parliamentary supervision of the College during that period of time. He objected to any further application of the public money to the College, and should divide the House on the Vote.

SIR EDWARD GROGAN

said, he thought that his hon. Friend (Mr. Spooner) gave the right interpretation of the clause.

Question put, "That the clause stand part of the Bill."

The Committee divided:—Ayes 107; Noes 43: Majority 64. Clause agreed to.

MR. VANCE

said, he had to acquaint the right hon. Gentleman in the Chair that Sir George Bowyer was in the lobby with the "Noes," and was permitted by the messenger to go into the lobby with the "Ayes" after the Question had been put and the doors locked.

THE CHAIRMAN

The only question is whether there has been any discrepancy between the voice and the vote. I do not understand the hon. Member to say that the Gentleman to whom he refers gave his voice one way and his vote the other. If so, that is a discrepancy which can be redressed by the Committee; but the circumstance to which the hon. Member refers is not an irregularity that can be noticed.

Remaining Clauses agreed to.

House resumed.

Bill reported, without Amendment.

House adjourned at a quarter after Three o'clook.