HC Deb 11 May 1866 vol 183 cc842-4

Bill considered in Committee.

(In the Committee.)

MR. BOUVERIE

proposed a new clause to enable directors of Chartered Public Asylums to grant a superannuation allowance to their servants after a certain number of years service. He thought the principle so reasonable that no objection could be raised to it.

THE LORD ADVOCATE

hoped the clause would not be pressed. If adopted, it ought to apply to pauper asylums as well as chartered asylums; in practice it would lead to difficulty in the case of asylums that depended upon endowments and upon voluntary contributions, and at present he was not prepared to adopt the clause.

MR. BOUVERIE

said, he was sorry to persevere against his hon. and learned Friend, but he was willing that the clause should be made wider in its application, if that were desired. His hon. and learned Friend was estopped from opposing the principle of superannuation, because he had proposed it with reference to another class of public officers, and, in fact, great public establishments, involving the employment of public officers, could not be properly conducted unless superannuations were granted. The asylums named as presenting difficulties were comparatively modern; but the clause as proposed would apply to old establishments, the directors of which had not that legal power of granting superannuations which existed in England. A clause in the English Act specifically provided that officers should have superannuations.

SIR EDWARD COLEBROOKE

said, that the hon. and learned Gentleman who opposed the clause ought to advance a good reason why it should not be considered, for it only embodied a reasonable and sound principle, capable of defence ill point of justice, and practically acted upon in England.

MR. M'LAREN

said, that in Scotland the asylums were erected by voluntary contributions, and he thought the right principle was to allow each institution to do as it thought fit.

THE LORD ADVOCATE

said, he would, before the Report was brought up, take into consideration the question as to whether Parliamentary interference was necessary.

Clause negatived.

THE LORD ADVOCATE

, in moving to add a new clause, explained that it had been introduced for the purpose of empowering Parochial Boards, as well as public asylums, to raise money for enlarging their wards for the reception of lunatics. It provided, however, that monies borrowed by Parochial Boards should be repaid in annual instalments of not less than one-thirtieth of the whole amount borrowed.

Clause added to the Bill.

Preamble.

SIR JAMES FERGUSSON

drew attention to the fact that the Bill did not provide for the remuneration of a very meritorious officer, the Chairman of the Lunacy Board, who at present discharged his duties gratuitously.

THE LORD ADVOCATE

replied that the expenses of the Lunacy Board in Scotland were rather heavy. He did not dispute that it would be desirable to assign a salary to the Chairman, but that was a matter which did not rest entirely with him.

Preamble agreed to.

House resumed.

Bill reported; as amended, to be considered upon Friday next, and to be printed. [Bill 157.]