§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Clause stand part of the, Bill."
§ Mr. C. WILLIAMSI should like to-ask a question with regard to this Clause, which relates to the appointment of a standing arbitrator. It is stated in Subsection (2) that the fee payable to the standing arbitrator is to be fixed by the Lord Chancellor. I quite admit that probably no one would do it better, but, at the same time, I think that the House of Commons has some right to know on what lines this fee is going to be fixed. It is all very well to quote some other Act, as is done here, but I think that this Committee have a right, when they are laying it down as part of the law of the country that an arbitrator of this kind shall be appointed, to know the basis on which the fees are to be paid. They have all to come out of the concern sooner or later, and I think we might have something definite on that point before we give the Government this Clause.
§ The ATTORNEY-GENERALI do not know how much my hon. Friend is asking me to tell him when he asks me to tell him the basis upon which the fee will be fixed. The basis, of course, will be that it is fair and that it is necessary to secure a competent arbitrator. If my hon. Friend means will I tell him the figure that will be fixed by the Lord Chancellor, he is asking an impossibility, but I happen to know a figure which has been suggested as a possible one. I do not really know whether the Committee would desire me to tell them the precise figure or riot, but I suggest that they should not press me. The figure covers a certain number of days—I forget the number—and it really is a very moderate 1567 fee, and there is a fee of 15 guineas for every day beyond the number that the original sum is to cover.
§ Mr. C. WILLIAMSThe right hon. and learned Gentleman has gone some way to meet us. He says it will be on a reasonable basis, but what is reasonable for some people is not reasonable for others.