§ Order for Consideration, as amended, read.
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Bill be now taken into Consideration."—(Mr. Sclater-Booth.)
754DR. CAMERON, who had a Notice on the Paper to move that the Bill be taken into Consideration that day three months, said, that he did not consider it advisable, after the previous evening's discussion, to occupy the time of the House; but he would take the opportunity of the Motion being on the Paper to assure the right hon. Gentleman the Secretary of State for the Home Department, that in future Sessions if the Roads and Bridges question should not be settled, a number of Scotch Members would oppose this Bill in the most determined manner, and protest against the continuance of every Scotch Act included in it, without proper investigation. He would also like to lay before the right hon. Gentleman one suggestion with regard to next year's Roads and Bridges Bill. A modification should be made on the measure, so far as the optional time for the duration of turnpikes was concerned. Ten years was far too long a period. By fighting the expiring Acts, Scotch Members themselves, without the aid of the Government, could succeed in abolishing tolls long before the date in the Roads and Bridges Bill. He hoped the right hon. Gentleman would reduce the time allowed for carrying out the Act to something like a reasonable period. In order that the right hon. Gentleman might address the House on the subject, if he wished, he would move the Amendment of which he had given Notice pro formâ.
§ MR. M'LARENseconded the Motion.
§ Amendment proposed, to leave out the word "now," and at the end of the Question to add the words "upon this day three months."—(Dr. Cameron.)
§ Question proposed, " That the word ' now ' stand part of the Question."
MR. ASSHETON CROSSSir, I am glad my hon. Friend has taken the course he has in only moving his Amendment pro formâ, and I can assure him of this —which I hope will satisfy him as to the intentions of the Government—that it would be quite impossible for the Scotch turnpikes to be continued year by year on the footing on which they have remained for the last few years. I am not at all sorry to have the opportunity of giving a warning to all parties concerned, that they must not expect that the Bill will be continued for the 755 future. Some settlement must be arrived at. If by any misfortune, which I do not at the present moment anticipate, legislation should be prevented in the course of another year, all these Turnpike Acts will have to be continued only after the greatest possible investigation and a proper understanding upon them. The expiring English Turnpike Acts are subjected to minute inquiry in each particular case. There is no reason why the Scotch Acts should not be treated in the same way. The Bills will not be continued in the way they have been done, as a matter of course. I look upon this Bill as practically a temporary Act, because it is the intention of the Government to press forward the Roads and Bridges Bill another year. I hope the statement I have just made will be satisfactory.
§ MR. E. JENKINSasked, what reply the right hon. Gentleman had to make as to the hon. Member for Glasgow's suggestion concerning the 10 years?
§ Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.
§ Main Question put, and agreed to.
§ Bill, as amended, considered,; read the third time, and passed.