COMMITTEE. (Hansard, 17 June 1878)

§ LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICE
observed, that the scheme which was sought to be sanctioned by the Bill was promoted by the unreformed Corporation of Orford. The land intended to be inclosed was Corporate land in the strict sense of the term, held in trust for the benefit of the inhabitants; and 1658 he thought it a serious question whether the Mayor and Corporation should be allowed to enter into the arrangement proposed, although he admitted that Sir Richard Wallace had acted in this matter in the most generous manner. It would be in the recollection of the House that on the Motion of his hon. Friend the Member for Chelsea (Sir Charles W. Dilke), a Commission had been issued to inquire into subjects relating to the unreformed Corporations; and though he believed there was nothing to say against the present scheme, he hoped he would receive an assurance that the passing of the Bill would not be made a precedent, and that the promotion of future schemes would be delayed till the Commission had reported.

§ MR. STEPHEN CAVE
said, that as President of the Commission to which the noble Lord had referred, as well as Chairman of the Committee, he had been placed in a somewhat difficult position. In his former capacity he had received information with reference to Orford, which might possibly affect the decision of the Committee; and yet, as the evidence taken before Committees and Commissions was considered confidential till the Reports were made, he could not well make use of it. He thought it his duty, however, to elicit the information required by putting questions to the witnesses from Orford who appeared before the Committee. It would appear, from the evidence now in the hands of hon. Members, that though the Corporation of Orford, like many other unreformed Corporations, consisted partly of nonresidents, who could hardly be said fairly to represent the opinions of the inhabitants, yet that these took no part in promoting the scheme, and their names were not given among those of assenting parties; therefore, he thought there was no objection on that score. Sir Richard Wallace had acted liberally; he had given more land for public purposes than he was obliged to do, and readily fell in with certain suggestions made by the Committee. Whatever might be the fate of the Corporation of Orford, any body or authority which might take their place would take it subject to the conditions imposed by this Bill. Therefore, as the scheme was itself unobjectionable, as the noble Lord himself admitted, he hoped it would be allowed to pass without alteration.

§ MR. PARNELL
objected to affording an unreformed Corporation facilities for inclosing common land—a serious question, seeing how little of it now remained in the country. In order that they might hear the hon. Member for Hackney (Mr. Fawcett) on the subject, he would move the adjournment of the debate.

§ MR. SHAW LEFEVRE
hoped that the Motion would not be persisted in, as the question of inclosure was really not involved. He believed that the hon. Member for Hackney (Mr. Fawcett) would have been satisfied with the explanations given by his right hon. Friend had he been present. His objections did not refer to the inclosure, but to the question raised by his noble Friend as to whether an unreformed Corporation should be permitted to make an agreement for an exchange of land. For his own part, he was satisfied that the exchange was a good one, and that Sir Richard Wallace had behaved generously to the public in the matter.