HC Deb 18 February 1902 vol 103 cc337-8

Bill read a second time, and committed.

*MR. CORRIE GRANT

(Warwickshire, Rugby) moved an Instruction to the Committee to which the Bill was referred, if they allowed Clauses 14 and 15, to report to the House their reasons for so doing. These clauses, he said. authorised the Corporation to close their park on bank holidays to let it for athletic sports, and other purposes, and use the money which they obtained in that way in maintaining a band of music in the town and advertising the attractions of the town in order to induce visitors to come to it. As a general principle the proposition of the Bill was contrary to the law as contained in the Public Health Act, and it was a danger- ous power to give to a Corporation that they should first purchase out of the ratepayers money for the benefit of the ratepayers an open space and then close it on the days in the year when the poorest people in the town were practically only able to use it, and then that they should spend the income which they got in that way not for the benefit of the whole town, but for the benefit of a portion only.

MR. LYTTELTON (Warwickshire and Leamington)

said the promoters of the Bill saw no objection to the course proposed. The Corporation thought there were excellent reasons for the proposal they made, and that they would be able to satisfy the Committee.

MR. CORRIE GRANT

said he need not in that case add anything to the observations he had made. His only object was to secure that this proposal should not be made a general precedent.

Ordered, That it be an Instruction to the Committee to which the Bill was referred, if they allow Clauses 14 and 15, to report to the House their reasons for so doing.—(Mr. Carrie Grant.)