§ Order for Second Reading read.
§ SIR H. DRUMMOND WOLFFsaid, he had given Notice of his intention to move that the Bill be referred to a Select Committee; and he thought he was in Order in making that Motion now.
§ MR. SPEAKERThe regular course would be to read the Bill a second time, and then for the hon. Member to bring forward his Motion.
§ MR. DIXON-HARTLANDsaid, he hoped that before the Bill was read a second time some explanation would be given on behalf of the Local Government Board of what was intended to be done with it. It was a Bill which provided for pouring an enormous quantity of sewage, amounting, he believed, to 10,000,000gallons daily, into the Thames at Kew; and after all the expense which had been incurred in endeavouring to keep the River clear and pure, he hoped the House would hear something about the Bill before they consented to read it a second time.
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKEtrusted that the House would not take its opinion of the Bill from what the hon. Member had said. The object of the Bill was not to pour sewage into the Thames, but to prevent sewage being poured into the River. He, however, asked the House not to discuss the Bill at this stage, because an understanding had already been arrived at. It was intended to adopt the proposal which had been placed upon the Paper by the hon. Member for Portsmouth (Sir H. Drummond Wolff); and he hoped, upon that understanding, the House would consent to read the Bill a second time.
§ SIR H. DRUMMOND WOLFFsaid, he would only explain that the Motion which he now begged to move was in the shape of a compromise, which had been accepted by the Government, and which, he thought, would be satisfactory both to the promoters and to the oppo- 1768 nents of the Bill. His proposal was to refer the measure to a Select Committee in the nature of a Hybrid Committee, with power to hear the evidence of certain persons who would not otherwise have a locus standi. He thought he should best consult the convenience of the House by simply moving the Motion; but he ought to state that there had been one or two verbal alterations made in it since it had been placed on the Paper, and he begged to move it in its amended form.
§
Bill read a second time, and committed to a Select Committee to consist of Seven Members, Four to be nominated by the House, and Three to be added by the Committee of Selection.
Ordered, That all Petitions against the Bill, or Orders, which have been presented be referred to the Committee, and that such of the Petitioners as pray to be heard by themselves, their Counsel, Agents, or Witnesses, be heard upon their Petitions, if they think fit, and Counsel heard in favour of the Bill against such Petitions.
Ordered, That Three be the quorum.
Ordered, That it be an Instruction to the Committee to inquire into and report upon the scheme of Sewerage in connection with which the lands are proposed to be taken under the Bill.