HC Deb 05 October 1909 vol 11 cc1977-9

From and after the passing of this Act it shall be competent for any corporation, board of town commissioners, rural district council, or urban district council in Ireland to expend annually a sum not exceeding twopence in the pound on the valuation for the purpose of advertising any watering-place or health resort which is wholly or in part situate within its area of charge, and if necessary to strike a rate accordingly.

The SOLICITOR-GENERAL for IRELAND (Mr. Redmond Barry) moved to leave out from the word "Act" ["after the passing of this Act"] to the end of the Clause, and to insert instead thereof the words:— The council of any urban or rural district or the commissioners of any town not being an urban district may advertise the advantages and amenities of the district, or any part of it, or of the town, as a health resort or watering place by the insertion of advertisements in newspapers or by placards or otherwise, as they may see fit, and may expend money for the purpose, provided that the sums so expended shall not in any one financial year exceed the amount that could be raised by a rate of one penny in the pound on the rateable value of the district or town.

Mr. CLAUDE HAY

Will the Solicitor-General kindly explain the Amendment?

Mr. REDMOND BARRY

It is purely drafting.

Mr. HUGH BARRIE

I think it is more than that.

Mr. REDMOND BARRY

No; it is purely a drafting Amendment.

Amendment agreed to.

Question proposed, "That the Clause, as amended, stand part of the Bill."

Mr. HUGH BARRIE

I think the Solicitor-General will see that the Amendment just agreed to was not purely drafting. Under the Bill it is proposed to give local authorities power to strike a rate of 2d. in the £, but under the Amendment just made it is distinctly stated that the rate shall not exceed a penny. I think the Committee is entitled to know why the alteration is made by the Government. I should have thought the local authorities were the best judges of how far they should go in this direction. A penny rate will be quite inadequate to achieve the object in view, and I would ask that the amended proposal should not be pressed.

Mr. REDMOND BARRY

The Local Government Board have given full consideration to the matter, and consider that all reasonable expenses will be met by the amount given. That being so, I am bound to stand by it.

Mr. J. H. CAMPBELL

It may be right or wrong, but a radical change has been made in the Bill because it reduces the rate that local authorities may spend from twopence to one penny. Up till now I have heard nothing in favour of this except that it is the opinion of the Local Government Board. I have not received any representations on the subject, so that I do not know whether or not the local authorities are satisfied or not.

Mr. REDMOND BARRY

All I can repeat is that the Local Government Board have considered the matter, knowing what the local arrangements are. They are of opinion that the present rate of a penny is quite sufficient for the present Act.

Mr. JEREMIAH MacVEAGH

I agree entirely with the remarks of the hon. Member for Derry (Mr. Hugh Barrie). I think that the Bill as originally drafted was a better one than the Local Government Board has turned it into. The hon. and learned Gentleman the Member for Trinity College said that he had not heard a word in favour of the Amendment. The simple explanation of that is that nothing can be said in favour of it. The Bill was far better than it will be by the time the Government have done with it. But those of us who promoted the Bill agreed to the Amendment of the Government because we thought we had better have half a loaf than no bread, and we were given to understand that facilities would not be given for the passage of the Bill unless we agreed to the terms of the Government.

Mr. HUGH BARRIE

In view of what one of the promoters of the Bill has said, I do not press my objection.