§ Order for Second Reading read.
§ MR. W. FOWLER,in moving that the Bill be now read a second time, said, that it was identically the same as a measure which was carried through that House with the support of a Liberal Government in 1872. Its object was to equalize the municipal representation of boroughs by taking representatives from districts which had greatly decreased since the Municipal Corporation Act passed, and allowing them to be given to the districts which had increased in population. Under the present law, however great the change in a borough might be with regard to the wards, no alteration could be made unless two-thirds of the Council applied to the Privy Council for inquiry and re-arrangement of the wards. This, which the provisions of the Bill would reduce to one-third, sometimes could not be done, and boroughs had then to come to Parliament for Private Bills at great expense; and that, he thought—especially in the case of small boroughs—was a cause of unnecessary trouble and expense. In Cambridge, Leeds, Bradford, Liverpool, and other places, there wore great anomalies in ward representation which would be redressed if the Bill were passed, to the second reading of which he hoped the House would now agree.
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Bill be now read a second time."—(Mr. William Fowler.)
§ MR. COURTNEYagreed with the hon. Member for Cambridge (Mr. W. Fowler) that the Bill was similar to that approved of by the Government in 1872. The present Government approved entirely of the objects of the measure; and, on their part, he had pleasure in assenting to the Motion of his hon. Friend.
§ Question put, and agreed to.
§ Bill read a second time, and committed for Friday.
§ House adjourned at a quarter after Four o'clock.