§ House in Committee (according to Order).
§ Clauses 1 to 3, inclusive, agreed to.
§ Clause 4 (Suitable places to be secured for revision courts).
THE MARQUESS OF BATHsaid, that the clause provided that the clerics of the peace for counties or the town clerks of boroughs should provide a suitable room for the Revising Barrister to hold his courts, and that the expense of such hiring should be reimbursed as part of his expenses in carrying out the Registration Acts. The effect of this would be to throw, directly or indirectly, upon the rates a burden which the 6 & 7 Vict. imposed upon the Treasury. True, the burden would not be a heavy one; but it was the accumulation of these small burdens which had led to the agitation on the subject of local taxation all over the country. He therefore moved the omission of the clause.
§ Moved, "To leave out Clause 4."—(The Marquess of Bath).
§ LORD CAIRNSadmitted that a new charge would be imposed by the clause upon the local rates, and that the latitude given to the clerk of the peace might give rise to considerable expenditure in the hire, without sufficient check, of rooms for the purposes of the revision courts. He would therefore consent to omit the clause.
§ Motion agreed to; clause struck out.
§ Remaining clauses agreed to, with Amendments.
§ The Report of the Amendments to be received on Monday next; and Bill to be printed, as amended. (No. 244.)