HC Deb 01 August 1900 vol 87 cc367-9

Considered in Committee.

(In the Committee.)

[MR. J. W. LOWTHER (Cumberland, Penrith) in the Chair.]

Clause 1:—

DR. TANNER (Cork Co., Mid)

urged the Government to adapt the working of this Bill to the system which obtained in the kindred Bill. He had, he said, three Amendments down to Clause 1, but the point he particularly wished to raise was the propriety of empowering councils to employ direct labour.

*THE CHAIRMAN

Order, order ! We had better dispose of one Amendment at a time. I may inform the hon. Member that his third Amendment, dealing with the employment of direct labour, is outside the scope of the Bill.

DR. TANNER

I will move my first Amendment, but I do wish to impress on the Government the justice of placing Ireland on the same footing as England, Wales, and Scotland in these local government matters.

Amendment proposed— In page 1, line 5, to leave out 'if they think fit'" (Dr.Tanner.)

MR. AtKINSON

said he thought the hon. Member was under a misconception. This was purely an enabling clause in regard to the issue of Provisional Orderd.

MR. TULLY

said there was a good deal of dissatisfaction in Ireland in regard to the procedure under Orders in Council. Take the case of an Order under which large contracts had to be made in regard to roads. What was to be done in the case of defaulting contractors? Would this Bill give power to the Local Government Board, when the county council had a grievance, to deal with these matters by way of Provisional Order? What was wanted was more elasticity in these matters.

MR. G. W. BALFOUR

The object of the clause is to enable the Local Government Board to alter the provisions of the Procedure Order as to the employment of direct labour by county councils. When this Bill has been passed it will be possible for the Local Government Board to introduce a Procedure Order altering the present system if it be thought expedient.

DR. TANNER

Whereas in England road contracts may be put out to tender, in Ireland the present system is compulsory.

CAPTAIN DONELAN (Cork, N.)

Are we to understand that this Bill will give facilities to councils in Ireland to employ direct labour?

MR. G. W. BALFOUR

The Bill will not give such facilities, but it will enable the alteration of any Order possible by means of a Procedure Order.

MR. BLAKE (Longford, S.)

Otherwise it would require an Act of Parliament to do this.

MR. T. P. O'CONNOR

I hope the right hon. Gentleman realises that there is a strong feeling in the Irish counties as to the necessity for altering the present system as soon as possible. We trust he will see that we got the facilities we desire.

MR. G. W. BALFOUR

I can make no pledge.

Amendment negatived.

Clause agreed to.

Remaining clauses agreed to.

Bill reported, without amendment; read the third time, and passed.