§ MR. TOMLINSON (Preston)I beg to ask the Attorney General whether he is aware that many County Councils and Municipal Corporations and other Local Bodies, coming under the definition of "governing bodies" in Section 1 of "The Municipal Corporations (Borough 14 Funds) Act, 1872," are desirous of exercising the powers conferred on them by "The Municipal Corporations (Borough Funds) Act, 1872," and by "The Local Government Act, 1888," by appearing as petitioners, or contributing to the cost of an appearance, to oppose "as in the case of a Private Bill," the Bill to confirm the Provisional Order about to be made by the Board of Trade under Section 24, Sub-section 8, of "The Railway and Canal Traffic Act, 1888," when referred to a Select Committee or Joint Committee of the two Houses of Parliament; whether he is aware that it is considered a matter of great importance by large bodies of traders and others that such bodies should be enabled to appear, or join in the costs of an appearance, before such Committee; whether it has come to his knowledge that doubts have been entertained as to whether, in consequence of the fact that the Act confirming such Provisional Order is by Sub-section 10 of Section 25 of the Railway and Canal Traffic Act defined to be a Public Act, such Governing Bodies and other Local Authorities are entitled to expend any money in or about such appearance; whether he would recommend that such doubts should be cleared up by passing a declaratory Bill; and whether he will be prepared, on behalf of Her Majesty's Government, to introduce and press forward a Bill for the purpose of remedying the defect, if any, in the wording of the Railway and Canal Traffic Act?
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Sir R. WEBSTER, Isle of Wight)As far as I can understand, there is no doubt as to the right. If any persons think there is a doubt, those persons should bring in a Bill on the subject. It is scarcely a matter for the Government.