HC Deb 23 May 1894 vol 24 cc1124-6

COMMITTEE. [Progress, 2nd May.]

Bill considered in Committee.

(In the Committee.)

Clause 4.

Amendment proposed, in page 3, line 30, after the word "served," to insert the words— The Order shall not require to be confirmed by Act of Parliament,"— (Mr. A. C. Morton.)

Question proposed, "That those words be there inserted."

MR. BANBURY (Camberwell, Peckham)

said, great injustice might be done by giving such wide and varied powers to Local Authorities without requiring them to obtain the sanction of Parliament. He therefore hoped the Com- mittee would refuse to accept the Amendment.

* COLONEL HUGHES (Woolwich)

said, he accepted the Amendment, which extended to the London Vestries the power which by the Local Government Act of last Session was given to Parish Councils throughout the country.

THE MARQUESS OF CARMARTHEN (Lambeth, Brixton)

said, he thought they were entitled to know the view of the Government with regard to this proposal to deprive the ratepayers of a valuable safeguard against the extravagance of Local Bodies.

THE SECRETARY TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Sir W. FOSTER,) Derby, Ilkeston

said, the Government saw no reason why London should not possess the power given to Parish Councils to take land for similar purposes to those contemplated by the Bill.

MR. BANBURY

Parish Councils are limited in their power of rating.

SIR W. FOSTER

said, the action of the Local Authority would still be subject to the sanction of the Local Government Board, and therefore he thought the ratepayers would be sufficiently protected.

MR. WHITMORE (Chelsea)

said, he should be sorry to see the Local Authorities in London possessed of less direct power than Parish Councils. He believed the Amendment would, by increasing the responsibility of the Local Authorities in London, induce the ratepayers to take a greater interest in local affairs.

MR. BANBURY

said, he thought the hon. Gentleman was mistaken as to the effect of the Amendment. It seemed to him it was rather hard upon the ratepayers of London to compel them to place their hands in their pockets in this way. After the division of opinion which had taken place on that side of the House he would not press his opposition to the Amendment.

Question put, and agreed to,

On Motion of Mr. BYLES, the following Amendment was agreed to:—To leave out Sub-section 6.

Clause, as amended, agreed to.

SIR R. WEBSTER

moved the following clause:—

(Exempting Lincoln's Inn.) Nothing in this Act contained shall extend to the extra-parochial place in Lincoln's Inn.

MR. T. H. BOLTON

did not know why the Temple and Gray's Inn should not be included.

MR. HOPWOOD

said, he intended to move the words— Shall extend to the extra-parochial places of the Inner and Middle Temple and Gray's Inn in addition to Lincoln's Inn.

* COLONEL HUGHES

said, he was sure no Vestry in Loudon had any intention of going outside its own district in order to build premises in these Inns.

Amendments agreed to the proposed new clause, to leave out the word "place," in order to insert "places" and to add after "Lincoln's Inn" "the Inner Temple, the Middle Temple, and Gray's Inn."

Clause, as amended, agreed to.

Bill reported; as amended, to be considered upon Wednesday next, and to be printed. [Bill 243.]