§ THIRD READING. [ADJOURNED DEBATE.]
§ Order read, for resuming Adjourned Debate on Question [6th April], "That the Bill be now read the third time."
§ Question again proposed.
§ Debate resumed.
§ MR. SEXTON (Belfast, W.)I do not intend, under the circumstances of the moment, to divide the House against the third reading of this Bill; but I feel called upon, as one of the Representatives of Belfast, to take this opportunity of recording my protest against the continuance, by the Town Council of that town, of the system which they have hitherto prosecuted in regard to various other Local Bills. My complaint is that schemes of this kind are arranged at private meetings of the Town Council, and that the ratepayers, who have to provide the money, are afforded no opportunity of expressing an opinion upon them through the ordinary means of convening a public meeting. I should be surprised to hear that any Corporation in Great Britain would have the impudence to present to Parliament a measure involving a very costly scheme of local legislation, without having, in the first instance, called a meeting of the ratepayers and laid the scheme before them. It is particularly to be regretted that in this case that reasonable course was omitted, because the people of Belfast believe that the construction 991 of this bridge across the River Lagan might have been made the means, at the same time, of purifying the river and carrying out certain sanitary works, which at present are much required in the town of Belfast. As I have said, I do not intend to divide the House against the Bill; but I wish to intimate that, as long as I continue to represent the town of Belfast in this House, and the Corporation continue this unreasonable and indefensible system of pushing forward legislation without previous consultation with the ratepayers, I shall feel it my duty to oppose every scheme they introduce in such a manner.
§ Question put, and agreed to.
§ Bill read the third time, and passed.