§ LORD HENNIKER, in rising to ask Her Majesty's Government, Whether they have considered the question of the large fees to be paid to the Treasury by the boroughs mentioned in the First Schedule of the Municipal Corporations (Unreformed) Bill, with the view of relieving these corporations of a heavy charge? said, he hoped the Government would be able to give him a reply to a Question he asked of the noble Earl who had charge of the Municipal Corporations (Unreformed) Bill, when he presented a Petition, a few days ago, from the borough of Aldeburgh. Aldeburgh was one of those boroughs which were included in the First Schedule of the Bill, as boroughs which should be retained. It would be a great strain on their resources to make them pay a large sum for Treasury fees. This would not be so hard were the boroughs only now to be incorporated. As it was, they were only to be reformed; and all they had to spare in the way of funds would be required for placing the new machinery in working order. This borough, like the other boroughs in the same category, merely asked for an act of justice—that an Act of Parliament might be passed to place them under the Municipal Corporations Consolidation Act, 1882, without the necessity of applying for a new Charter. Perhaps the noble Lord would state whether Her Majesty's Government could deal specially with such cases?
§ LORD CARLINGFORD (LORD PRESIDENT of the COUNCIL)said, that the 1118 new Charters would be prepared by the Privy Council. He had been in communication with the Treasury on the subject; and it had been decided that the towns to which the Question of the noble Lord referred should be exempted from the expense of the fees which his noble Friend feared they would have to incur.