§ MR. BRODRICKsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether he intends to bring in any measure to restrain the Conservators of the Thames from imposing the penalties under the 60th Section of "The Thames Navigation Act, 1866," upon populous places below Staines, until some general Act shall have been passed giving them facilities for obtaining some other outlet for their sewage than the River Thames? Perhaps he might be allowed to add that it would give great satisfaction to those whom he represented if the right hon. Gentleman can state, in case he does not mean to do that, what course he intends to take with regard to this important matter?
MR. BRUCEsaid, in reply, that the Question put by the hon. Gentleman was part of a much larger and extremely difficult subject now under the consideration of the Government, and he was unable to state whether or not it would be possible for them to deal with it in the manner suggested in the Question. In respect, however, to places situate on the Thames, they had advantages that were not possessed by many other populous towns, such as Leeds and Birmingham. The "Thames Conservancy Act of 1866" provided, that a month before the expiration of the limit of time up to which they could drain into the Thames, the various districts affected might apply to the Board of Trade for an extension of time, so that places like Staines had still the power of applying for an extension of time, if they could make out a good case for it.