HL Deb 03 August 1883 vol 282 cc1455-7

Order of the Day for the Second Reading read. Moved, "That the Order made on the 2nd day of March last 'That no Bill brought from the House of Commons confirming any Provisional Order or Provisional Certificate shall be read a second time after Tuesday the 26th day of June next,' be dispensed with, and that the Bill be now read 2a."—(The Earl of Redesdale.)

Motion agreed to; Bill read 2a accordingly.

VISCOUNT BURY

said, he begged to move that the Bill be referred to the same Committee as that to which No. 1 Bill was referred, in order to enable Petitioners to be heard. That the Bill be referred to the same Select Committee as the Electric Lighting Provisional Orders (No. 1.) Bill, with leave to all petitioners to be heard." — (The Viscount Bury.)

THE EARL OF KIMBERLEY

said, that last year a most elaborate Act of Parliament was passed for the purpose of enabling the Board of Trade to deal with those Bills. He was perfectly aware that it was within the competence of that House, and of the other House of Parliament, when a Provisional Order was made by the Board of Trade, to oppose it; but it was most unusual to do so when a Bill was not opposed. If they were to go back upon the General Act that had been passed, and not respect the Provisional Orders which had been made under it when they came from the Board of Trade, the whole system would break down.

THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY

said, that the object was not to reject the Bill, but to allow it to be inquired into.

THE EARL OF KIMBERLEY

That is the same thing in this case.

THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY

said, that if inquiry was the same thing as rejection it spoke very little in favour of the Bill. When the noble Earl said that the Bill was not opposed, the fact was that the Bill could not be opposed by the people most interested—the inhabitants of the districts affected. It was for the purpose of preventing the great blunder with respect to the Water Companies being repeated that the House was urged to accept the proposal of his noble Friend.

EARL GRANVILLE

said, that the Motion of the noble Viscount would, if adopted, go far to change the whole of the Rules as to locus standi.

THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY

said, it had been done in the other House.

VISCOUNT BURY

said, he had borne the amplest testimony to the great energy the Board of Trade had exhibited in arranging all the electric details, which were as perfect as they could be at present, though they might be still more improved in the course of time. He, however, made his Motion on public grounds, for the purpose of ascertaining whether the distribution of the districts was a proper one or not. At the present moment, the division into two districts left three-fourths of the whole district at the mercy of the persons to whom the Provisional Orders load been granted. What he wanted was that the Committee should see whether it was not possible to re-arrange the districts by streets.

THE EARL OF DERBY

asked who were the parties to appear before the Committees? No one in the districts would have a locus standi; and the inquiry which his noble Friend asked for could not be conducted unless they were to change the Standing Orders of the House by which Private Business was carried on out of favour to a particular class of the community.

VISCOUNT BURY

said, he had urged that every Petitioner should be heard.

THE EARL OF CAMPERDOWN

said, that the material point, in his opinion, was the question of price. Different prices were to be charged. If one of these Bills was to be referred to a Committee, he could not see why they should not all be treated alike.

THE EARL OF REDESDALE (CHAIRMAN of COMMITTEES)

said, that it was of great importance that time should be allowed to those interested in the question to come before the House.

LORD ELLENBOROUGH

said, he apprehended that the Motion of his noble Friend amounted to this—that it should be an Instruction to the Committee that the different parties interested should be heard.

On Question? Their Lordships divided:—Contents 20; Not-Contents 25: Majority 5.

CONTENTS.
Somerset, D. Forbes, L.
Salisbury, M. Foxford, L. (E. Limerick.)
Gerard, L.
Camperdown, E. Harlech, L.
Milltown, E. Hopetoun, L. (E. Hopetoun.)
Hawarden, V. Penrhyn, L.
Sherborne, L.
Ashford, L. (V. Bury.) [Teller.] Ventry, L.
Watson, L.
Clinton, L. Wemyss, L. (E. Wemyss.)
Crofton, L.
Ellenborough, L. [Teller.] Winmarleigh, L.
NOT-CONTENTS.
Selborne, E. (L. Chancellor.) Breadalbane, L. (E. Breadalbane.)
Carlingford, L.
Derby, E. Carrington, L.
Granville, E. Clermont, L.
Kimberley, E. Howth, L. (E. Howth.)
Morley, E. Kenmare, L. (E. Kenmare.)
Redesdale, E.
Shaftesbury, E. Methuen, L.
Sydney, E. Monson, L. [Teller.]
Ramsay, L. (E. Dalhousie.)
Gordon, V. (E. Aberdeen) Rosebery, L. (E. Rosebery.)
Sherbrooke, V.
Saye and Sele, L.
Aberdare, L. Thurlow, L.
Boyle, L. (E. Cork and Orrery.) [Teller.] Wrottesley, L.

Resolved in the negative.

Bill committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Monday next.