§ House in Committee (according to Order).
§ Bill reported, without Amendment.
§ Report brought up.
§ LORD REDESDALEmoved that Clause 3, empowering trustees to grant compensation to clerks of trusts and surveyors, be struck out. A number of turnpike trusts had been allowed to expire during the last twenty years, and yet during that time there had been no instance in which any of the officers had been allowed compensation. The clerks of these trusts were generally solicitors, and had, he maintained, no more claim to compensation than they would have for the loss of their business by death, for instance, of a person who had always employed them. Moreover, since the passing of the Highways Act, surveyors of highways were very much in demand, so that any one among them who had a good reputation in his business would be sure to obtain an appointment. The only precedent for such a proposal as that contained in the clause was that which occurred about two years ago, when some of the turnpike trusts about London were abolished; but that was, in fact, a metropolitan job. He hoped, under those circumstances, that the House would not give its assent to the clause.
§ THE EARL OF LICHFIELDthought that the clause was a reasonable one, and that it would be very hard upon both surveyors and clerks, who had frequently been occupied on these trusts for many years, if they were thrown upon the world without any compensation for the loss of their employment. The power only went to allow trustees to give three years' salary; and, as that was a moderate proposition, and as compensation had been allowed under the Metropolitan Act, he hoped the clause would not be rejected.
LORD DENMANsaid, he had been entrusted with a Petition from a clerk and surveyor of roads in the county of Derby, and did not think, judging from the general conduct of the trustees of roads in that county, that if the clause were agreed to, anything like excessive compensation would be given by them.
§ THE EARL OF ROMNEYsaid, the operation of the Bill would be general. The solicitors and surveyors who were clerks and officers of these trusts generally resided 1328 in large towns, and their time was not wholly given up to the discharge of the duties of their position. He saw no good reason, therefore, why the clause should receive the assent of the House.
§ LORD CLINTONsaid, he would offer no further opposition to the omission of the clause.
§ Clause struck out. Further Amendments made; Bill to be read 3a To-morrow, and to be printed as amended. (No. 332.)