HL Deb 30 March 1865 vol 178 cc483-4

Amendments reported (according to Order.)

LORD REDESDALE moved a New Clause— Where, in accordance with the Standing Orders of either House of Parliament and of an Act of the Ninth Year of Her present Majesty, Chapter Twenty, a Deposit of Money or Stock is made with respect to the Application to Parliament for an Act, the Money or Stock so deposited shall be a Security for the Payment by the Promoters of the Bill for the Act of all Costs or Sums in respect of Costs, if any, payable by them under this Act; and every Party entitled to receive any Costs or Sum so payable, shall accordingly have a Lien available in Equity for the same on the Money or Stock so deposited, and the Lien shall attach thereon at the Time when the Bill is first referred to a Committee of either House of Parliament; provided that where several Parties have the Lien for an Amount exceeding in the Aggregate the net value of the Money or Stock their respective claims shall proportionately abate.

LORD STANLEY OF ALDERLEY

opposed the clause. The money deposited with a private Bill was deposited as a security that the proposed works would be executed, whereas by this clause this money would be made applicable to an entirely different purpose. Besides, to require money to be deposited as security for costs was an entirely novel principle, for it was one not adopted even in the courts of law.

LORD HOUGHTON

said, that though the clause in itself might be a good one it was not germane to this Bill, and, if adopted, might imperil the measure. The Bill ought to be kept strictly within its own purposes and for its own objects; and he therefore trusted that if the noble Lord the Chairman of Committees thought the object of his clause a good one, he would find a better opportunity of proposing it.

THE MARQUESS OF BATH

did not think his noble Friend's clause was open to the objection which had been made to it by the noble Lord the Postmaster General; because it was well understood that the money deposited with a Private Bill was no real security for the execution of the works.

THE LORD CHANCELLOR

thought that the proposition of the noble Lord the Chairman of Committees would not operate at all unreasonably in the cases in which a Bill happened to be rejected; but in the event of a Bill passing, it would certainly be open to objection that a lien on the deposits should be given. He hoped, therefore, the noble Lord would re-consider the matter, and bring up the clause in a modified shape on the third reading.

LORD REDESDALE

said, that in accordance with what appeared to be the general wish of the House, he would, on a subsequent stage of the Bill, bring up a clause the operation of which should be limited to those cases in which a Bill was lost.

An Amendment made; Bill to be read 3a on Monday next; and to be printed, as amended (No. 51.)