§ LORD ROBERT MONTAGUsaid, he rose to move that a Select Committee be appointed to inquire into any plans for dealing with the Sewage of the Metropolis and other large Towns, with a view to its utilization for agricultural purposes. He did not desire to enter into the commercial value of sewage. All he wished was the Committee should consider the plans which had been laid before the Metropolitan Board of Works for transporting sewage from London and other large towns to the country. It was very desirable to know how the engineering difficulties could be overcome, in order to the utilization of sewage. The Government were favourable to the Committee, the Metropolitan Board were most desirous that it should be appointed, and the rate payers were also anxious that an inquiry should take place, in order to their relief, it possible, from a portion of the burden of local taxation. The Lord Mayor and Sheriffs had appeared at the Bar of the House, and petitioned in favour of the appointment of the Committee.
§ SIR JOSEPH PAXTONsaid, he did not consider that any good could arise from the Committee. Already a Committee had sat on the subject, and had produced a large blue-book which no one had read. He thought it would be better to leave the matter in the hands of the Metropolitan Board of Works and the authorities of the different towns throughout the country.
§ MR. T. J. MILLERsaid, he should 1699 support the appointment of the Committee, on the ground that the Metropolitan Board of Works could not otherwise ascertain which of the many plans that had been submitted to them was the best for dealing with the sewage of the metropolis, which was estimated in value at a million sterling — more than the amount of rates levied by the Board.
§ MR. CAIRDsaid, he thought the Government ought to have dealt with the subject, in pursuance of the Report of the Committee of 1862. But if the noble Lord succeeded in his object he would perform a good work.
§ Motion agreed to.
§
Select Committee appointed,
To inquire into any plans for dealing with the Sewage of the Metropolis and other large Towns, with a view to its utilisation to agricultural purposes."—(Lord Robert Montagu.)
§ On April 29, Committee nominated as follows:—
§ MR. COWPER, Mr. WALPOLE, Mr. BRIGHT, Mr. ADDERLEY, Sir WILLIAM RUSSELL, Sir Frederic SMITH, Lord FERMOY, Sir JOSEPH PAXTON, Mr. CAIRD, Mr. TITE, Mr. LEADER, Mr. HIBBERT, Mr. SCLATER-BOOTH, Dr. BRADY, and Lord ROBERT MONTAGU:—Power to send for persons, papers, and records: five to be the quorum.
§ And, on May 11, Mr. NORTH and Mr. FERRAND added.