THE DUKE OF MONTROSE,in moving that the Bill be now read the third time, said, that in reference to what had been said on a previous occasion with respect to the expediency of giving powers to make use of the railway wires in certain cases, he desired to explain that the Bill contained a clause empowering the Postmaster General to require the railways to carry on through their wires any business which might be necessary for the convenience of the public. The railway companies wished to have independent wires for their own purposes, but they were willing to act for the Post Office in cases where there might not happen to be a convenient telegraph office or local post office.
§ Bill read 3a.
§ LORD REDESDALEsaid, he had an Amendment to move in that part of the Bill which provided for the distribution of money by the directors of the telegraph companies in recognition of special services. This clause put into the hands of directors and officers the power of voting money to themselves without much control, and he thought it would be only reasonable that the arbitrator named in the Bill should determine whether the sum was reasonable or not. He, therefore, moved to insert the words, "any sums so voted having been approved of as fair by the arbitrator hereinafter named."
THE DUKE OF MONTROSEsaid, he could not agree to the Amendment, because, if it were adopted, the Bill must go back to the Commons, and delay would thus be occasioned. The fact was that in the case for which the noble Lord wished to provide the shareholders must take care of themselves; and he should hope that, after the notice taken of the subject by the noble Lord, shareholders would be sufficiently alive to prevent any job of that sort. The arbitrator was really not the proper person to settle such a point as this; he was merely to fix the sum to be paid by the Government to these companies, and was not to decide between the directors and the shareholders.
§ Amendment negatived.
§ Bill passed.