§ House again in Committee (according to Order.)
§ LORD SUDELEY, in moving, as an Amendment, to strike out of the Bill a tramway in the East of London, said, he did so on the ground that the assent of the Metropolitan Board of Works as 921 the "Local Authority" had not been obtained to the application to the Board of Trade for the Provisional Oorder as required by the Tramways Act, 1870.
§ Amendment moved, in pages 104 to 110, to leave out the whole of the Order relating to Woolwich and South-East London Tramways.—(The Lord Sudeley.)
THE DUKE OF RICHMOND AND GORDONsaid, he felt bound to oppose the Amendment, as he thought it a great hardship on the Company. The Board of Trade should have taken the trouble to ascertain whether the requirements of the law had been complied with before granting the Provisional Order. The solicitors who had obtained the Order had acted in perfect good faith.
THE LORD CHANCELLORsaid, he would point out to the noble Duke opposite (the Duke of Richmond and Gordon) the impropriety of allowing this part of the Bill to proceed, when the requirements of the Tramways Act, 1870, had not been complied with. The Law Officers of the Crown had, moreover, advised that the assent required by law had not been obtained. He had himself loooked into the questions which had been raised, and he entirely concurred in the opinion of the Law Officers. He hoped, therefore, the opposition to the Amendment would be withdrawn.
THE DUKE OF RICHMOND AND GORDONsaid, that after the statement of the noble and learned Earl on the Woolsack he would not press his opposition to the Amendment.
§ Amendment agreed to.
§ Other Amendments made.
§ House resumed.
§ The Report of the Amendments to be received on Thursday next.