§ "That in Ireland the Board of Public Works be the authority to make the Provisional Order herein and the Department of Agriculture and Technical Education take the place of the Commission of Sewers."—[Mr. J. O'Connor.]
§ Clause brought up, and read the first time.
§ Mr. J. O'CONNORI beg to propose, "That the Clause be read a second time."
In my former observations I was about to draw the attention of the House to the important fact that this Bill does not propose to impose any cost upon the country whatever. I was drawing attention, byway of contrast, to a Bill that was introduced on a former occasion by the then Chief Secretary for Ireland the present Member for the City of London (Mr. Balfour). He proposed the Bills I have mentioned with this fact attached to them, that large Grants of public money were to be made to the authorities set up under the Bill in order to carry out its operation. This Bill does not propose to impose any tax upon this country or to make any Grant to Ireland. It only proposes to set up authorities in Ireland that will have the power to tax themselves to carry out necessary works. They have the power of extending the area of taxation and of imposing taxes upon themselves. This is just an enabling Bill, and we ask for the extension of the provisions of this Bill, which costs nothing, and merely enables local authorities to carry out necessary work, and we are met with technical objections at every point. My suggestion is merely to extend the benefit of a beneficent Act to a country that wants it most. Here you have an authority set up that can exercise powers that are already in existence in this country, but in Ireland 745 we have no such power, and we have been crying out for them for a long time. I am simply asking that this Bill shall be—
§ Mr. BOOTHI wish to raise a point of Order. I am in sympathy with the hon. Member opposite, but I understood from the statement made by the Minister in charge of this Bill that by no change in the words of this measure could it be made to apply to Ireland. I understand that none of these Clauses could be made to apply to the circumstances in Ireland on account of the way they are drafted.
§ Mr. J. O'CONNORIf I am wrong, I think I should be told so by the representative of the Government.
§ Sir H. VERNEYThe only purpose of Bill is that the English Board should have certain powers and that is the beginning and the end of the Bill. I have great sympathy with the hon. Member's object, and I regret that I am informed that I cannot make this Bill apply to Ireland.
§ Mr. T. W. RUSSELL (Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture, Ireland)It is not so much legislation that is required as agreement between the different authorities. At one time the Treasury were prepared to make a grant, but the local districts could not be induced to make their contribution, and all efforts have come to nothing on that point.
§ The DEPUTY-CHAIRMANI am still against the hon. and learned Member. The whole text of the Bill obviously refers to the English Board, and just to add this at the end seems to me to depart from the real purpose of the Bill.
§ Schedule agreed to.
§ Bill reported.
§ As amended, considered.
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Bill be now read the third time."
§ Mr. MORTONI should just like to ask what the Bill has to do with the War?
§ Sir H. VERNEYI tried to make that clear on the Second Beading. It is purely a temporary Bill, lasting two years only, 746 and it is simply and solely to deal with the question of unemployment arising in consequence of the War. If unemployment does not arise in consequence of the War, this Bill will probably not take effect. If there should be serious unemployment in consequence of the War and a large scheme of land drainage should be required, then the Bill will enable the Board to make a Provisional Order dealing with the emergency.
§ Mr. MORTONThen it is quite clear Ireland and Scotland ought to be included.
§ Mr. PRINGLEIn case my hon. Friend should be regarded as the sole champion of Scotland, I wish to put a question to the hon. Baronet and thereby elicit the reason why Scotland is not included in the Bill. As I understand it, the powers which are conferred by this Bill upon the Board of Agriculture are at present exercised under the Land Drainage Act by a body known as the Commissioners of Sewers. For some reason or other it is found convenient to dispense with the existing authorities under the Land Drainage Act. In that memorable speech which the hon. Baronet made on the Second Reading he made no reference to the motives of the Government in bringing in this Bill. He should at least have informed the House why it was inconvenient to act through the existing authorities and why the new machinery under this Bill is preferable to that under the Lands Drainage Act. As I understand it, this Bill is not applied to Scotland because, fortunately, the Lands Drainage Act does not apply to Scotland, and the same measures as are contemplated under this Bill can be taken into Scotland without any special legislation at all. In these circumstances the representatives for Scottish constituencies have not thought it necessary to put pressure on the Scottish Office to include Scotland in this Bill. But on the other point I mentioned I should like to have an explanation if possible.
§ Sir H. VERNEYI am afraid I have exhausted my right of reply.
§ Question put, and agreed to.
§ Bill read the third time, and passed.