Lords Sitting of 15 August 1871

MINUTES.
PUBLIC BILLS—First Reading—Civil Bill Courts (Ireland)* (319); Expiring Laws Continuance* (320).
Second Reading—Epping Forest* (309); Metropolis Water (311); Elementary Education Act (1870) Amendment* (315); Local Government (Ireland)* (316); Turnpike Acts Continuance, &c.* (317).
Committee—Merchant Shipping Acts Amendment* (310).

EPPING FOREST BILL—(No. 309.)
(The Duke of St. Albans.)
EPPING FOREST BILL—(No. 309.)

  SECOND READING.
  Order of the Day for the Second Reading, read.
  THE DUKE OF ST. ALBANS, in moving that the Bill be now read the second time, said, that in 1849 a Bill prepared

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  by a Select Committee of the House of Commons was passed, by which a Commission was appointed to inquire into rights and claims and into certain alleged unlawful inclosures in Waltham Forest—which included Epping and Hainault. The Commissioners reported in the following year that there were difficulties in the prosecution of the inquiry; but in 1855 Hainault was disafforested. In 1865 fault was found in the House of Commons with the management of Epping Forest by the Commissioners of Woods; and in 1866 Mr. Gladstone, as Chancellor of the Exchequer, transferred the forest to the Commissioners of Works, with a view to its preservation as a place of public recreation and enjoyment. In the same year the Metropolitan Commons Act was passed, for the purpose of preserving commons within a radius of 15 miles of Charing Cross, and power was given to the Metropolitan Board of Works to provide funds for the maintenance of such commons. Negotiations were opened with the view of enabling the Board to deal with Epping Forest; but, owing to changes of Government and the pressure of important matters, nothing was then done. Last year Her Majesty, in reply to an Address voted by the House of Commons, expressed Her concurrence in the desirability of preserving open spaces in the neighbourhood of the Metropolis, and promised to consider how effect might be given to that object. This Bill had accordingly been prepared, which, while protecting the rights and claims of the lords of manors and others connected with the Forest, and securing them compensation for any loss they might sustain, would enable Commissioners to prepare a scheme for the preservation of the wastes of Epping Forest for public recreation. That scheme, however, would not take effect until it had been submitted to the approval of Parliament; and any parties who felt themselves aggrieved would have an opportunity of appearing before a Select Committee. The selection of Commissioners — the Assistant Inclosure Commissioner, two gentlemen of property in Essex, and Mr. Locke, M.P.—had been acquiesced in by the Members for Essex, and they would report within two years, when it was hoped a scheme would, be prepared which, while respecting the rights of the parties interested, would preserve for
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  the dense population of the East-end those lands to which the public had hitherto had free access.
  Motion agreed to; Bill read 2a accordingly, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House To-morrow.

METROPOLIS WATER BILL—(No. 311.)
(The Earl of Morley.)
METROPOLIS WATER BILL—(No. 311.)

  SECOND READING.
  Order of the Day for the Second Reading, read.
  THE EARL OF MORLEY, in moving that the Bill be now read the second time, said, that by the Act passed in 1852 the Metropolis Water Companies were required to provide a constant supply of water to the Metropolis; but they were only required to do so on the written application of four-fifths of the ratepayers of a district—a condition which had rendered its provisions inoperative. Under the present Bill an application for a constant supply might be made by the metropolitan authority—namely, the Corporation of London for the City, and the Metropolitan Board of Works for the rest of the Metropolis—but such supply would not be compulsory if the companies could show that one-fourth of the houses were not provided with appliances for preventing waste, and an appeal might be made to the Board of Trade. The Bill had been accepted by the companies, and was now only opposed by the Metropolitan Board of Works. It was important that it should be passed this Session, for apprehensions were entertained of an outbreak of cholera, and it was well known that an impure or insufficient supply of water was the most effective way of spreading that and other diseases.
  LORD REDESDALEthought the opposition of the Board of Works was not very creditable to a body charged with the health of the Metropolis. He hoped that the objections of the Board might be privately met on one or two points, it being desirable that the Bill should pass this Session.
  Motion agreed to; Bill read 2a accordingly, and committed: The Committee to be proposed by the Committee of Selection.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT (IRELAND) BILL.
(The Lord Privy Seal.)
LOCAL GOVERNMENT (IRELAND) BILL.

  (NO. 316.) SECOND READING.
  Order of the Day for the Second Reading, read.
  VISCOUNT HALIFAX, in moving that the Bill be now read the second time, said, that the object of the Bill was to amend the laws relating to the local government of towns and populous places in Ireland, by extending to them the system of Provisional Orders; and by giving the Governing Bodies power to establish markets. The Bill also made certain provisions in respect of the audit of accounts, arbitration, and controverted elections and it directed the application of certain Acts relating to the Public Health.
  LORD REDESDALEcalled attention to the omission of a clause contained in the measure when introduced into the House of Commons, which entitled objectors to such orders to a hearing before a Select Committee. He hoped that an arrangement would be made to restore this clause, as otherwise, contrary to the rule prevailing in England, the Executive would have an absolute power in the matter, and would not be subject to the control of Parliament.
  Motion agreed to; Bill read 2a accordingly, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House To-morrow.
  House adjourned at half past Five o'clock, 'till To-morrow, Five o'clock.