HC Deb 25 June 1863 vol 171 cc1493-4

Bill considered in Committee.

(In the Committee.)

Clauses 1 to 8 agreed to.

Clause 9 (Sale of the Advowson).

MR. LYGON

said, that while he admitted that it might at times be desirable to sell an advowson in order to augment a living, he objected to the sale of the presentation to the new district to be created under the Bill out of the funds of the charity. He therefore moved an Amendment, providing that it should be placed in the gift of the Bishop of the diocese.

MR. LIDDELL

said, he must oppose the Amendment. The advowson was to be sold to augment the funds of the charity. That arrangement had been a matter of compromise, and he believed that the present scheme met with the general approbation of the town at large.

MR. HEADLAM

urged the Committee to make no material alteration in the Bill, which was the result of a compromise.

MR. LOWE

said, a municipal corporation was notoriously a bad patron. It was proposed to sell the advowson, and to apply the proceeds in aid of the medical charity. The Amendment of his hon. Friend would deprive the charity of that money.

MR. COLLINS

said, he believed that the patronage would be better placed in private hands than in those of the Bishop, but recommended his hon. Friend not to divide.

MR. G. CUBITT

contended that the arrangement proposed in the Bill would introduce an entirely novel principle.

MR. LOWE

said, he did not think mere novelty mattered much if the step were right in itself.

MR. LYGON

said, he would withdraw his Amendment.

Clause agreed to.

Clauses 10 and 11 agreed to.

Schedule.

MR. LYGON

said, he would then move the omission of section 12, which would give a sanction to the odious and improper system of pew rents.

MR. LOWE

said, there were in the chapel 100 free seats and 188 seats paying pew rents. The proposition was, in effect, that the revenue hitherto enjoyed from that source should be cut off.

Amendment proposed, to leave out paragraph 12.—(Mr. Lygon.)

Question put, "That paragraph 12 stand part of the Schedule."

The Committee divided:—Ayes 59; Noes 11: Majority 48.

House resumed.

Bill reported; as amended, to be considered To-morrow.