Lords Sitting of 16 June 1876

MINUTES.
PUBLIC BILLS—First Reading—Trade Marks Registration Amendment* (121); General Police and Improvement (Scotland) Provisional Order (Lerwick)* (122), and referred to the Examiners.
Second Reading—Elementary Education Provisional Order Confirmation (London)* (100); Elementary Education Provisional Orders Confirmation (Hailsham, &c.)* (101).
Committee—Ecclesiastical Offices and Fees (94–123.)
Report—Tramways Orders Confirmation (Bristol, &c.)* (60).

ECCLESIASTICAL OFFICES AND FEES BILL—(No. 94.)
(The Lord Archbishop of Canterbury.)
ECCLESIASTICAL OFFICES AND FEES BILL—(No. 94.)

  COMMITTEE.
  Order of the Day for Committee read.
  On Motion, That the House be put into a Committee on the said Bill,
  EARL NELSONsaid, there was a point of some importance in regard to which there had been a difference of opinion in the Select Committee by which the Bill had been considered. The question on which the Committee were divided was whether all ecclesiastical fees should be paid into a central fund to be held by the Ecclesiastical Commission, or whether these fees should be placed under diocesan management. A number of witnesses examined before the Committee—including the Dean of Lichfield and Lord Alwyne Compton—thought that these fees should be managed by a Diocesan Board; and in his (Lord Nelson's) opinion the diocese was the natural integer from which Church work should be carried out. The Committee, however, were in favour of the central plan; but it would be a failure unless the central body was instructed as to the different fees levied in the different dioceses. In the Bill it was proposed that this information should be obtained by a cumbrous representative body called the Council of the Vicar General. He thought that it could be better obtained by means of a Royal Commission, or by Commissioners named in the Bill. He should be prepared to give Notice of Amendments to effect that object if he received any encouragement from the House.
  Motion agreed to; House in Committee accordingly; Amendments made; The Report thereof to be received on Monday next; and Bill to be printed as amended.—(No. 123.)

THE NOBILITY OF MALTA.

  QUESTION.
  VISCOUNT SIDMOUTHasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether he is willing to produce the correspondence which has recently passed through the Colonial Office in reference to certain grievances complained of by the Nobility of Malta, more particularly a letter addressed to the Secretary of State by that body?
  THE EARL OF CARNARVON, in reply, said, he would be very happy to give his noble Friend any extracts from the Correspondence to which he had alluded in his Question if he would move for it in the usual manner. He could not promise to produce all the Correspondence, but he would lay on the Table all that was material and that could be given. He was not aware that his noble Friend wished for further Correspondence relating to the suggestions made for the better government of the Island. However, if his noble Friend would specify what he wished to have he would look into the Papers and produce all that he could.
  VISCOUNT SIDMOUTHsaid, he had understood that some communications had been addressed by the Nobility of Malta to the noble Earl alleging certain complaints against what passed upon a recent occasion, and that there were other matters contained in the despatch which might be produced. He would be glad to have the Correspondence relating to all that had taken place.
  THE EARL OF CARNARVONsaid, he would look through all the Papers at the Colonial Office, and would then tell his noble Friend what he could lay on the Table.

  TRADE MARKS REGISTRATION AMENDMENT BILL [H.L.]
  A Bill for the amendment of the Trade Marks Registration Act—Was presented by The Lord Chancellor; read 1a. (No. 121.)

  GENERAL POLICE AND IMPROVEMENT (SCOTLAND) PROVISIONAL ORDER (LERWICK) BILL [H.L.]
  A Bill to confirm a Provisional Order under "The General Police and Improvement (Scot-
  1966
  land) Act, 1862," relating to the burgh of Lerwick—Was presented by The Lord Steward; read 1a; and referred to the Examiners. (No. 122.)
  House adjourned at Six o'clock, to Monday next, Eleven o'clock.