HC Deb 02 March 1900 vol 79 cc1516-8

[SECOND READING.]

Order for Second Reading read.

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Bill be now read a second time."

MR. STRACHEY () Somerset, S.

said he would only formally move the rejection of this Bill. He would not have opposed it at all had it not been for the position taken up by the Government in regard to. his Instruction. He did not understand why the Government desired to oppose the Instruction, especially as it had been agreed to by his hon. friends the Member for Taunton and the Member for the Wellington Division of Somerset, two of the backers of the Bill. He might also state that he had received a telegram from the town clerk of Taunton approving of it Although the Instruction appeared on. the Paper for the first time that day, it was by no means a new one, for it had appeared in another form for some days on the Paper. He begged formally to move that the Bill be read a second time that day six months.

Amendment proposed— To leave out the word 'now,' and at the end of the Question to add the words 'upon this day six months.'"—(Mr. Strachey.)

Question proposed, "That the word 'now' stand part of the Question."

* THE SECRETARY TO THE LOCAL. GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. T. W. RUSSELL,) Tyrone, S.

The reason for my opposition is this. The clause, as it stands in the Bill, represents an arrange- merit assented to by the Chamber of Agriculture and the Municipal Corporations Association with the Board of Agriculture and the Local Government Board last session, and in that form the clause was inserted in a great number of Bills. The clause embodied in the Instruction of my hon. friend was rejected by the Police and Sanitary Committee last session, hut subsequently inserted in the Leeds Bill in another place. I desire this Bill to be read a second time, but I wish to have a further opportunity of considering the Instruction before I consent to the upsetting of the agreement arrived at by the various bodies I have named last session. I do not say that I intend to oppose it, but I do think the Police and Sanitary Committee should have some opportunity of considering it, and therefore I shall hope to further deal with the Instruction when it is proposed later on.

COLONEL WELBY () Taunton

said he quite concurred with what had fallen from the hon. Gentleman, and he hoped there would be no objection raised to the passing of the Bill.

MR. STRACHEY

thereupon asked leave to withdraw his Amendment, but ventured to remind the Secretary to the Local Government Board that he was quite mistaken in thinking that the compromise of last year was intended to apply to future Bills. It was merely a compromise with regard to the Bills of last session.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Main Question put, and agreed to.

Bill read a second time, and committed.

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That it be an Instruction to the Committee to provide in Part III. of the Bill that the powers of the Corporation and their officers to inspect cows and dairies outside the Borough be not exercised without the previous order of two Justices sitting in Petty Sessions, and having jurisdiction in the district wherein the dairy is situate, and that such order: be not made unless the said Justices are satisfied that the local authority of the said district has not already dealt with the case."—(Mr. Strachey.)

Debate arising,

Debate adjourned till Tuesday.