HC Deb 31 July 1897 vol 52 cc17-9

(1.) "Whenever an Order in Council is made under this Act a Commission (in this Act called the Military Mamœuvres Commission) shall be formed consisting of as representative members (a) and (b).

  1. (a) two persons appointed by the council of each county and one person appointed by 18 the council of each county borough (if any) wholly or partly within the specified limits; and
  2. (b) if those limits include any part of the New Forest, two persons appointed by the court of verderers; and
  3. (c) such other persons, being resident owners or occupiers of land within those limits, as may be appointed by the Secretary of State, but not exceeding in number the representative members actually appointed.

(2) The commission may act by three of their number, and notwithstanding any vacancy in their number.

(3.) Any question arising at any meeting of the Commission may be decided by the majority of those voting on the question, and if the votes are equal the chairman of the meeting shall have a second or casting vote.

MR. MACNEILL

moved in paragraph (a), after "borough" to add— and each district council representing a population of not less than 1,000 should send a representative to the Manœuvres Commission. He wanted a fair representation of public opinion. He contended that it was absolutely essential that they should have some popular representation of the public view. He hoped that the Under Secretary would be able to accede to this. What they wanted was that this Bill should not compromise the rights of the people. It was absolutely essential to have persons in touch who had local knowledge.

* SIR C. DILKE

said in practice such a course would be impossible. In several parts of the country the effect of the Amendment would be to create a very large and altogether unworkable body. The difficulty was the extraordinary number of Urban District Councils in some counties. In Cornwall it would add fifty, increased to 100, if the War Office exercised its right.

MR. DILLON

said that as they had no County Councils this power would be necessary for the Boards of Guardians so that they might protect the public interest, the difficulty might be overcome by fixing the population.

MR. W. B. BEACH (Hants, Andover)

said he was sure full consideration would be given to all claims brought before it.

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

The House divided:—Ayes, 26; Noes, 130.—(Division List, No. 354.)

MR. DILLON

said be understood the Under Secretary accepted the principle of the following Amendment which he had on the Paper—in Paragraph (c) to leave out "but not exceeding in number the representative members actually appointed," and insert,— provided always that the representative members actually appointed exceed in number the persons appointed by the Secretary of State. He would not, therefore, move the Amendment.

* MR. BRODRICK

moved to leave out from "State" to "appointed," and to insert,— provided always the persons appointed under the foregoing provisions of this Section exceed in number the persons appointed by the Secretary of State.

MR. DILLON

thanked the right hon. Gentleman for having accepted the Amendment. They had been so fairly met by the right hon. Gentleman and had obtained such substantial concessions that he would advise his Friends to move no more Amendments. ["Hear, hear!"]

Amendment agreed to.

MR. CALDWELL

moved in Sub-section (3), to leave out "may," and to insert "shall."

Amendment agreed to.

Clause 6,