§ MR. J. STUART (Shoreditch, Hoxton)said, that amongst the parties concerned it had been agreed that the Motion standing in his name should be withdrawn, and he would then move an Amended Motion which had been agreed to, and which covered all the points of the case. He asked leave to withdraw the following Motion:—
That any County Council and any of the London Water Companies be entitled to be heard before the Select Committee on the above Bill on any Petitions praying to be heard by Counsel, presented by them on or before 14th March next, and that such Petitions be referred to the said Committee.
§ Motion by leave withdrawn.
§
MR. J. STUART moved—
That any of the London Water Companies, presenting a Petition against the Bill not later than 14th March, praying to be heard by Counsel. Agents, and Witnesses, and the council of any county which includes any part of the Metropolitan water area, presenting a Petition against the Bill not later than 21st March, praying to be heard by Counsel, Agents, and Witnesses, shall be entitled to be heard on such Petition before the Select Committee on the Bill. That any district council or other local authority for any district wholly or in part within the Metropolitan water area, the London Water Companies jointly, and any other person claiming to be affected by the Bill, presenting a Petition against the Bill not later than 21st March, praying to be heard by Counsel, Agents and Witnesses, may be heard on such Petition before the Select Committee on the Bill, if and so Far as the Committee shall think fit.
§ MR. R. G. WEBSTER (St. Pancras, E.)said, he did not want to oppose in any way the right hon. Gentleman's Motion, but he would point out to the House that it placed the various county councils in a totally different position to that 530 of the local authorities in the metropolitan area and also in London. The county councils had a locus standi before this Committee, whereas the local authorities had simply the permission to ask the Committee if they might appear. He should like to know why the local authorities had not an equal right to a locus standi.
§ MR. J. STUARTsaid, the only local authorities who had petitioned in London would have a locus standi at present. Every part who had acted for these local authorities had agreed to the Motion, and the method proposed was the ordinary way in which the business of the House was conducted.
§ SIR J. BLUNDELL MAPLE (Camberwell, Dulwich)thought it was very much better to have the matter arranged as was proposed by the Motion, as it would prevent unnecessary Debates.
§ SIR JOHN LUBBOCK (London University)asked if the local authorities had agreed to the matter.
§ MR. J. STUARTsaid, he could not mention the exact local authorities, but he knew that very much more than half of the local authorities, through their representatives, had agreed to the matter.
§ Motion agreed to.