§ House in Committee (according to Order).
§ Clauses 1 to 13 agreed to, with Amendments.
§ Clause 14, relating to the mode of taking the votes at elections,
THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYproposed an Amendment, that the votes for vestrymen and auditors should be taken by means of voting papers transmitted to the ratepayers by post, and returned in the same manner.
§ On Question, their Lordships divided:—Content 19; Not Content 23: Majority 4.
§ Clause 49,
§ THE EARL OF POWIS moved the insertion of the following proviso:—"Provided always that such chairman shall not be eligible to sit or serve in Parliament." His object was to prevent the office from degenerating into one of a political character.
THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYsupported the proviso. The Secretary of State might select a Member for Marylebone for the office of chairman. Nothing could be more fatal to the operation of the Bill than having a Member of Parliament for the Chairman of the Board.
§ EARL FORTESCUEconcurred in the objection.
§ EARL GRANVILLEdeclared that there was no precedent for the exclusion of a Member of Parliament from such an office. The Lord Mayor might sit in Parliament.
THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYsaid, the mayoralty was an annual and elective office; the chairmanship was permanent, and the Secretary of State was to appoint to it.
§ Earl GRANVILLE and Lord WODEHOUSE opposed the Motion, which was negatived without a division.
§ Amendments made; the Report thereof to be received on Thursday next.