HC Deb 04 June 1878 vol 240 cc1215-6

Clause 24 (Regulations as to meetings and proceedings of trustees' board, and district committees).

DR. CAMERON moved the omission, in page 15, line 11, of the words— But this provision shall not prevent a person whose name is entered on the list of Commissioners of Supply as factor for more than one proprietor, from voting on behalf of such proprietor in his absence at a meeting of the trustees. The provisions, he contended, made, as it stood, a very invidious distinction in favour of a single class of commissioners.

THE LORD ADVOCATE

said, that a Commissioner of Supply who had £800 a-year according to the valuation roll, might be represented under the operation of the present law by his factor in his absence. If, then, two proprietors could vote if they sent two factors to a meeting, was it not reasonable that for the sake of convenience they should be enabled to vote by means of one?

MR. RAMSAY

was of opinion that the effect of the Amendment, if passed, would be to disfranchise a considerable number of proprietors who were represented at road trust meetings by their factors.

MR. M'LAREN

supported the Amendment. The clause in its present shape appeared to him to be most unjust. It would result in a revival of the old system which used to prevail in the House of Lords, when a Peer carried a majority of proxy votes in his pocket.

And, it being now ten minutes to Seven of the clock,

House resumed.

Committee report Progress; to sit again upon Tuesday 18th June, at Two of the clock.

The House suspended its Sitting at Seven of the clock.

The House resumed its Sitting at Nine of the clock.

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