Lords Sitting of 7 August 1885

MINUTES.
PUBLIC BILLS—First Reading—Public Health (Metropolis) * (240).
Second Reading—Committee negatived—Metropolitan Police Staff Superannuation* (222); Consolidated Fund (Appropriation)*; Past India Army Pensions Deficiency* (239).
Committee—Labourers (Ireland) (No. 2) (235–241).
Committee—Report—Public Works Loans* (234).
Report—Third Reading—Local Government (Ireland) Provisional Orders (170); Crown Lands* (224), and passed.
Third Reading—Parliamentary Elections (Returning Officers)* (231), and passed.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT (IRELAND) PROVISIONAL ORDERS BILL.
(The Marquess of Waterford.)
LOCAL GOVERNMENT (IRELAND) PROVISIONAL ORDERS BILL.

  (NO. 170.) REPORT.
  Amendment reported (according to Order): Then Standing Order No. XXXV. considered (according to Order), and dispensed with; Bill read 3ª, with the Amendment.
  On Motion, "That the Bill do pass?"
  LORD FITZGERALD, in rising to move the insertion of the new clause which was rejected at the previous Sitting by a majority of 1—the figures being, Contents 19, Not-Contents 20—said, it provided that the supply of water by the Dublin Corporation to the outlying townships should be increased from 20 to 25 gallons per head per day. When the arrangement was made, 16 years ago, the valuation of Bray was £17,600; now it was £26,000—an increase of nearly 60 per cent; so that the Corporation was receiving considerably more from. Bray now than it did when the agreement was made. The population had only increased in that period 30 per cent; so that the advantage was clearly on the side of the Corporation, and not on that of the township. The case was similar in regard to the other townships. It was asked why the townships, if they wanted to obtain the increase now asked for, did not seek to bring in a Bill to effect their purpose; but they had no funds to meet the expenses of a Private Bill. There was nothing to fall back upon but
  1430
  the rates; and it was obvious that they could not contend with a wealthy Corporation like that of Dublin, whose power and wealth were increasing day by day. With the Corporation it was different. It was now promoting a Bill, the cost of which would be paid out of the Borough Fund; and, as this was a sanitary question, advantage was taken of the opportunity on the part of the townships to, if possible, induce the Corporation to confer a great sanitary advantage upon them. He (Lord Fitzgerald) had carefully looked into the Provisional Orders, and seeing the advantages conferred on the Corporation, he considered the townships were justified in asking that the Corporation should be compelled to do that act of justice that many of its own members were willing to concede. The question before their Lordships really was, whether they would not abide by the recommendation of their own Select Committee? He was now authorized to state that it was the unanimous wish of the Peers who had composed that Committee, that the clause he was now about to move should be agreed to, increasing the supply of water to the townships by 25 per cent.
  Amendment moved, in page 1, after Clause 2, to insert the following Clause:—
  "For the purposes of the eighth section of the Dublin Corporation Waterworks and Fire Brigade Provisional Order, 1874, and of the Orders hereby confirmed, the statutable or contract allowance of water to the townships mentioned in that section shall be deemed to be twenty-five gallons per head per day, as provided by the Acts in that section mentioned relating to those townships respectively, and the said Orders and Acts shall be read and have effect accordingly."—(The Lord FitzGerald.)
  Question proposed, "That the said Clause be there inserted."
  LORD ARDILAUNsaid, that if there was one rule which was impressed upon their Lordships as one which should not be broken, it was the necessity of supporting the Reports of their own Committees. As regarded the subject under notice, he put it to their Lordships, whether they were not sticking to the letter rather than to the spirit of the Report of the Select Committee? The Bill was now in the form, in which it left the Committee no doubt; but the noble Lord the Chairman of the Committee,

  1431
  and the noble Puke (the Duke of Marlborough), and other noble Lords, Members of the Committee, had stated to the House, that the opinion they had appeared to have expressed on the Report was not the opinion they had desired to give. The noble and learned Lord (the Lord Chancellor) had told them yesterday that it was too late, or something to that effect, to alter the Bill; but if that were the case, he (Lord Ardilaun) would ask what was the object of having these different stages of a Bill? Why should they have the first reading, the second reading, the Committee stage, Report, and third reading? Was it not that they might have so many opportunities of correcting faults and errors that might have occurred in the conduct of the Bill during those earlier stages? Unquestionably. When, therefore, they found that the Members of the Select Committee were now practically unanimous in declaring that they appeared to have made a mistake in their Report, and when it was remembered that the Committee was sitting until 7 o'clock at night, and that great obstacles in the way of the passage of the clause had been raised by the parties to the Bill, he did not think that the objection that it was now too late to alter the Bill should hold good. There had been insuperable difficulties in the way of the drafting of the clause before the Committee; though, if the Chairman himself had seen his way to draft it, the whole thing would have been at an end. He would call their Lordships' attention to the fact that the Acts on which the present water supply was based were passed 16 years ago, during which long time the Corporation had taken no steps to have these Acts altered. One of the clauses had been found unworkable in the interests of the Corporation, so the Corporation had come to Parliament to get it altered. Whilst they effected their purpose, it was but right that the townships should seek to obtain an alteration in the existing law, which was found to be disadvantageous to them. He earnestly supported the Amendment.
  THE MARQUESS OF WATERFORDsaid, he was surprised that the noble and learned Lord opposite (Lord Fitzgerald) should have brought that matter again before the House, after the decision which had been given yesterday.
  1432
  It was said that the water supplied to the townships was sought to be cut down by the Corporation; but that was not the fact, and if the townships had been receiving more than 20 gallons per head per day, it was in excess of that to which they were entitled. The townships had the right under their own Local Acts, passed 10 years ago, to 20 gallons of water per head per day. They were to have that amount assessed on the number of the population, and all that the Corporation had done had been to desire to assess the population properly. There had been no means in Ireland of finding out what the population was; and all they asked for, in the present Bill, was that they should have those means, and that there should be a legal definition of the term "population" for the purposes of assessment. It was admitted that during the 16 years referred to, the townships had received a large number of gallons per head per day more than they were entitled to. The Corporation, however, on that account made no proposal to cut down the quantity of water supplied. It would remain as it was. The only proposal was that the townships should be limited to what they themselves arranged for 16 years ago, and that any water beyond that should be paid for at the rate of 2½d. per 1,000 gallons. Finding an opportunity of getting from the Corporation what they were really not entitled to—namely to have an additional supply of water without paying the 2½d. per 1,000 gallons chargeable for it—it was evident to him now that was what the opponents of the Bill meant. He would call their Lordships' attention to the fact that the proposal had only been brought before the Committee of the House of Lords at the last moment, and that it had never been submitted to the House of Commons Committee at all. He trusted their Lordships would not reverse the decision they arrived at yesterday, and throw out the Bill at the last moment. The House could only act upon what it saw, and that was, in this case, that the Bill was reported without Amendment; and though now it was said the Committee were unanimous in favour of the Amendment, yet they had practised an extraordinary method of showing their unanimity—namely, by neglecting to put in this clause. It was

  1433
  only as an afterthought that it was proposed. It would be most unfair to the Corporation of Dublin to accept it. It would have the effect of taking hold of the property of the Corporation, which was really the property of the people of Dublin. If they accepted the Amendment and broke down the existing law, as to the quantity of water to be supplied to the townships, they would also break down all those various Local Acts which had been reported to have been in existence for 16 years, for it proposed to allow an extra five gallons of water per head without increasing the charge. He would again say that he hoped their Lordships would not reverse the decision at which they arrived yesterday.
  THE DUKE OF MARLBOROUGHsaid, that their Lordships had had the case most ably and clearly put before them, and after what had fallen yesterday from the noble and learned Lord (Lord Fitzgerald) and that day from the noble Lord (Lord Ardilaun), he was exceedingly surprised at the attitude taken by the noble Marquess who represented the Government in the matter (the Marquess of Waterford). They were accustomed to see so many changes in the attitude of Parties in Parliament that one was prepared almost for anything; but he certainly was not prepared to see the noble Marquess give such an extraordinary support as this to the privileges of the Corporation of Dublin. Such a circumstance seemed to him (the Duke of Marlborough) to be most remarkable. The injustice under which the minor townships were labouring had been clearly shown, and it was surely too much to say that that injustice should not be removed except at the expense of a special Act of Parliament. He put it to the Government that the unanimous decision of the Peers who had formed the Select Committee should be taken as a guide in this matter. As that was the only occasion of which the townships could avail themselves in order to obviate the injustice he had referred to, he should give his vote for the Amendment. If the House decided that the townships must, in order to obtain what they sought for, go through the expensive process of trying to get an Act of Parliament themselves, then it would be impossible for them to obtain a measure of justice. The only point the Committee had before them
  1434
  was whether they would take on themselves the responsiblity of inserting the Amendment; but they were absolutely unanimous as to the justice of the proposal.
  On Question? Their Lordships divided:—Contents 21; Not-Contents 19: Majority 2.
  Resolved in the affirmative; clause inserted accordingly.
  Motion agreed to.
  Bill passed, and sent, to the Commons.

TREATY OF BERLIN—ARTICLE X.— THE VARNA AND RUSTCHUK RAILWAY.

  QUESTION. OBSERVATIONS.
  LORD SANDHURST, in rising to ask the Prime Minister, Whether Her Majesty's Government propose to take any steps, and, if so, what steps, to insure compliance by the State of Bulgaria with Article 10 of the Treaty of Berlin, in so far as it refers to the Varna and Rustchuk Railway? said, that several Questions had been asked in the House of Commons on the subject; but the answers given had not been very reassuring. The action of the Bulgarian Government had been so dilatory as to be almost suggestive of bad faith. If it were a private individual or firm, there would be a method of dealing with it, and he could not see how the code of commercial honour of States differed from that of individuals. The Article of the Treaty of Berlin seemed in danger of lapsing; and, if one Article lapsed, the whole might do so, an idea in which Her Majesty's Government were hardly likely to concur. In asking the Question, he was actuated by no self-interest—he was not a shareholder, nor a Director—but, judging from the Blue Book, the conduct of Bulgaria was at variance with ordinary notions of commercial honour.
  THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY, in reply, said, that the noble and gallant Lord opposite (Lord Sandhurst) had relied a good deal upon the Article of the Treaty of Berlin; but he (the Marquess of Salisbury) very much doubted whether that Article had precisely the bearing which appeared to have been suggested to the mind of the noble and gallant Lord. He did not gather from it that it gave any new rights to the

  1435
  Company. The Treaty of Berlin transferred Bulgaria, so far as practical government wont, from the Porte to the Prince of Bulgaria, and the Prince succeeded to the obligations which the Porte had assumed in respect of this railway. Therefore, the Railway Company had precisely the same rights against the Prince that it had against the Porte, neither more nor less. No doubt, the creditors of the Railway Company had been badly treated. Successive Governments in England had done what was in their power to bring about a satisfactory settlement of the long-standing claim of the Company; but those efforts had proved ineffectual, and the noble and gallant Lord seemed to think it strange they had not succeeded. No doubt, as the noble and gallant Lord had said, in this country a creditor could easily bring a debtor to book; but, among the inventions of modern times, a Bankruptcy Court as between nations had not yet been discovered, and, therefore, a process which would be easily applied to a private debtor in this country could not be applied to a State which did not fulfil its obligations. The noble and gallant Lord asked what steps were to be taken to insure the payment of the obligations of the State to the Varna Railway. "Insure" was a big word, and he did not know whether the noble and gallant Lord attached any military views to the idea, or whether he intended to carry out the analogy he had instituted, by issuing process against Bulgaria, and attaching the body of the Prince or those of the inhabitants. He (the Marquess of Salisbury) must say that none of those material methods appeared to be open to us, and we were left entirely to such moral influence as other nations of Europe and ourselves could exercise. He doubted whether it was incumbent upon us especially, or whether it was incumbent upon all the Signatories to the Berlin Treaty, to secure that proper effect should be given to the Article relied upon; but he earnestly hoped that, by the wisdom of the nations of Europe, some exhortations might be addressed to the Bulgarian Government sufficiently pressing to induce them to do more justice than they had hitherto done to these and to other creditors. He should be sorry to use any language winch would separate his statement from those of his
  1436
  Predecessor (Earl Granville), which had been described as sympathetic, but not too encouraging on the subject. As to himself, he desired to offer the noble and gallant Lord who asked the Question all the sympathy in his power; but, beyond sympathy, he doubted very much whether he could promise any assistance. He could only say that all means that were open to the Government diplomatically they should gladly bring to bear so as to secure the equitable settlement of these long outstanding claims. It was much to be regretted that they had stood over so long. But, at the same time, it was only fair to say it was probable that the delay of the Bulgarian Government in making payment was to be attributed quite as much to financial embarrassment as to any indisposition to satisfy the demands of the Company. He should be glad to use his efforts to get the matter referred to arbitration, if he thought that arbitration could lead to any practical results; but it did not seem likely that it could do so. The matter should receive all the attention the Government could give to it; but he could not give any promise to insure the satisfaction of the claims of the Company.

LABOURERS (IRELAND) (No. 2) BILL.
(The Marquess of Waterford.)
LABOURERS (IRELAND) (No. 2) BILL.

  (NO. 235.) COMMITTEE.
  Order of the Day for the House to be put into Committee read.
  THE MARQUESS OF WATERFORD, in moving that the House do resolve itself into a Committee, said, that the object of the Bill was to render the Act of 1883 workable by removing some of the difficulties that had been found to exist in that Act. It was passed when Parliament was anxious to deal in a comprehensive manner with the housing of the Irish agricultural labourer, and contained some novel principles, which their Lordships always approached with great caution, and would only adopt in case of absolute necessity. He would first state shortly what provisions the Labourers (Ireland) Act, 1883, contained. In the first place, it arranged that if 12 ratepayers, residing within a sanitary district, represented that the existing house accommodation for agricultural labourers was deficient, or unfit for habitation, the Sanitary Authority

  1437
  should call a meeting after 14 days' notice, and, if satisfied that such was the case, should pass a resolution, and make a scheme for improvement. The 12 ratepayers were to suggest the most suitable positions for the houses required. The Sanitary Authority, after having published a statement of the scheme in the months of September, October, or November, and served notice on the owner and occupier of the land which they proposeed to acquire, were to petition the Local Government Board, praying that an Order might be made confirming the scheme. With the Petition were to be sent maps and estimates of the proposed undertaking, and also a statement as to whether the owner or occupier dissented from the proposal. The Local Government Board were then to hold a local inquiry, and, if satisfied with the proposal, were empowered to make a Provisional Order sanctioning the scheme; but that Provisional Order would not take effect in cases where an objection was raised by owners or occupiers, or where three ratepayers had petitioned within the specified time against the scheme, unless it was confirmed by Act of Parliament. When that confirmation had been obtained, the Sanitary Authority were empowered to purchase the land compulsorily and carry the scheme into execution, and the Treasury was bound to advance the money, paying off the interest and principal in a certain number of years, in order to enable the Sanitary Authority to carry the scheme into effect. The Act had been found to be almost inoperative, and he was afraid it would be found, as time went on, more inoperative still. There were a number of schemes proposed; but so great were the difficulties of carrying thorn out, that very few houses were built, and, unless the Act were amended, there would be even fewer for the future. A Committee sat upon this question in "another place" last year, and obtained a great deal of valuable and interesting evidence, and upon its Report the present Bill was mainly framed. The reasons set out in that Report why the Act of 1883 was not workable were shortly these—that the expenses attending the working of the Act of 1883 were so enormous that they discouraged the Sanitary Authorities and Boards of Guardians from taking action in the matter, for
  1438
  fear they should place too great a burden upon the rates. In the first place, the Sanitary Authority was obliged to purchase the fee-simple of the land, and the cost of proof of title and conveyancing was very heavy, and entirely disproportionate to the size of the plot of land required, the cost being to all intents the same as if the Sanitary Authority was purchasing a large estate instead of half-an-acre. Secondly, the cost of Parliamentary confirmation which was incurred in every case where the scheme was opposed was very great. Thirdly, the rate of interest charged by the Treasury and the shortness of the maximum term allowed for repayment made the money borrowed a heavy charge upon the rates. Then, again, there were other causes which prevented the Act being put into operation. It obliged the Sanitary Authority to buy land, and build a new cottage upon it; but there was no provision made for repairing existing cottages, and allotting plots of land to them. Moreover, the arrangement which limited the service of notices to the months of September, October, and November was found not to be sufficient. It was shown in evidence, that the cost of building a cottage of a kitchen and two rooms, with all the sanitary arrangements required by the Local Government Board, would be about £70, and the legal and other expenses, including the purchase money, would come to some £35 more, making in all £105. The annual payment to the Treasury for 35 years for that sum would be something over £5 12.s., a sum which it would be perfectly impossible to expect an agricultural labourer, from the small wages he received in the greater part of Ireland, to pay in the shape of rent for his cottage and plot of land. About 1s. to 1s. 3d. was as much as an agricultural labourer could pay in Ireland; and, therefore, if that rent were put upon the houses, the rates would have to bear more than half the charge for 35 years, with the risk that if the house became untenanted, or the labourer became unable to pay even that rent, the rates would have to bear it all. The Bill got rid of many of these difficulties. In the first place, it got over the difficulty and expense of purchase by empowering the Local Government Board, with the consent of the Lord Lieutenant and Privy Council, to make

  1439
  a Provisional Order to enable the Sanitary Authority to take land compulsorily upon lease for 99 years, and limited owners were given power to grant such leases. There would be very little expense in taking such a lease compared with the expense of purchasing the fee-simple, and the rates would be saved to that extent. In cases of dispute, the Land Court was to fix the rent which was to be paid by the Sanitary Authority. If the land were liable to quit rent, Crown rent, or in the occupation of a tenant, the apportionment of such rent was to be settled by agreement. If not so settled, the Court was to apportion. The owner, if aggrieved, could obtain a re-hearing of his ease by the Land Commission under the 44th and 48th sections of the Act of 1881. A Provisional Order made by the Local Government Board did not require to be confirmed by Act of Parliament, in cases where a Petition was lodged; but, instead of going before Parliament, arrangement was made that the petitioner's case be heard by the Lord Lieutenant and Privy Council, who then could confirm or reject the Provisional Order. The Lord Lieutenant in Council was to make rules for the procedure, the payment of fees and costs, &c. In addition to those provisions, the Sanitary Authority could purchase and put into repair any existing cottage, and add half-an-acre of land to it, or could take an existing cottage on lease. The time for serving notices of the improvement scheme, instead of being limited, as in the Act of 1883, to the months of September, October, and November, was, by the Bill, extended to the whole year. An Inspector of the Local Government Board was to report if a house were unfit for habitation, and the Sanitary Authority was to require the owner to repair it, or prevent it being further used. Anybody disregarding the order of the Sanitary Authority in this respect was liable to a fine not exceeding 10 s. a-day. The definition of an agricultural labourer was revised and enlarged, and the term fixed for the continuance of the Act would be fixed at seven years from 1883, instead of for five years, the date named in the original Act. The Bill, he thought, was distinctly a step in the right direction. Its object was to provide house accommodation for one of the most deserving classes in Ireland;
  1440
  and it was hoped that, while these classes were by these means put into a state of comfort, indirect benefits would be conferred on all classes of society. The House had already assented to the principle by passing the Act of 1883, and ought, therefore, to pass a Bill which would give the labourers an Act which would really be workable. In some quarters a fear was felt that the measure might be used for political purposes; but he hoped that would not be the case, and there were provisions in the Bill that were intended to guard against such an unfortunate result. Should that precaution prove efficient, the Bill would, be a real blessing to the class whom it was intended to benefit. The noble Marquess concluded by making the Motion of which he had given Notice.
  Moved, "That the House do resolve itself into Committee."—(The Marquess of Waterford.)
  THE EARL OF WEMYSSsaid, he wished to know whether the Bill was to enable Sanitary Authorities or others to build houses for the working classes, partly out of the rates and partly out of the public funds?
  THE MARQUESS OF WATERFORD: No.
  THE EARL OF WEMYSS: Well, out of the rates?
  THE MARQUESS OF WATERFORD: Yes, out of the rates.
  THE EARL OF WEMYSSsaid, that the noble Marquess had spoken of the Bill as a step in the right direction. What was the terminus of the road along which the noble Marquess desired to travel? Was any limit to be imposed to the advance of money for such purposes?
  THE MARQUESS OF WATERFORDsaid, that he must remind the noble Earl that this was not a new departure in legislation. He used the expression to indicate that the object of the Bill was simply to render operative an Act the principle of which their Lordships had accepted in 1883.
  LORD FITZGERALDsaid, he perfectly agreed that the Bill was a step in the right direction with respect to a subject of considerable importance—the improvement of the condition of Irish agricultural labourers. That question had been a subject of controversy for the last 30 years. A Bill on the subject

  1441
  had been passed in 1857, but it failed; and several intermediate attempts had been made to deal satisfactorily with the question, but without success. No doubt, on large estates, and especially on that of the noble Marquess himself (the Marquess of Watorford), sufficient cottage accommodation was already provided by the landlords. But outside those estates the condition of the Irish labourers in regard to residence was a reproach to civilization, and it was impossible for any considerable advance in their well-being to be made unless their homes were greatly improved. He hoped their Lordships would pass the Bill, and thereby give a most deserving class a chance of advancing in prosperity and comfort.
  Motion agreed to: House in Committee accordingly.
  Clauses 1 to 11, inclusive, severally agreed to.
  Provisional Orders.
  Clause 12 (Provisional order may be confirmed by the Privy Council).
  On the Motion of The Marquess of Waterford, Amendments made in page 5, line 12, after ("than") leave out ("twelve") and insert ("six"); in line 17, after ("not") leave out ("more") and insert ("less"); and in line 28, after the word ("Council") to insert the words ("after hearing the petitioner or giving him an opportunity of being heard.")
  Clause, as amended, agreed to.
  Clause 13 (Amendment of provisional orders made before this Act).
  On the Motion of The Marquess of Waterford, Amendment made in page 6, after ("not") leave out ("more") and insert ("less.")
  Clause, as amended, agreed to.
  Clauses 14 and 15 severally agreed to.
  Clause 16 (Powers of the sanitary authority relative to purchase existing cottages, and allot land to existing cottages).
  THE EARL OF COURTOWN THE EARL OF COURTOWN moved, as an Amendment, to insert words to render it clear that the purchase should be by agreement.
  THE MARQUESS OF WATERFORDsaid, that as this was a new Amendment
  1442
  proposed without Notice, he should, be glad if the noble Earl would move it on Report.
  Amendment (by leave of the Committee) withdrawn.
  On the Motion of The Marquess of Waterford, Amendment made in page 8, line 22, at end of the Hue, add—
  "Provided also, that, except in the case of a tract of land in the neighbourhood of a town or village as aforesaid, a sanitary authority shall not let or permit to be hold any land acquired by them under the said Act as amended by this Act to or by any person who is not also tenant to the sanitary authority of a dwelling-house."
  On the Motion of The Earl of COURTOWN, Amendment made by omitting, in the same page, lines 24 and 25.
  Clause, as amended, agreed to.
  Clause 17 (Closing of dwellings unfit for habitation) agreed to.
  Clause 18 (Area of charge for rate levied by the sanitary authority).
  LORD VENTRY, in moving an Amendment with the object of creating a right of approval to the Local Government Board against unjust assessment by Sanitary Authorities, said, that, unless the Amendment were accepted, it would be in the power of Boards of Guardians to favour particular districts at the expense of others.
  Amendment moved, in page 9, line 36, after ("authority") insert ("subject to the approval of the Local Government Board.")—(The Lord Ventry.)
  After some discussion,
  THE MARQUESS OF WATERFORDsaid, that in deference to what appeared to be the sense of the House he would accept the Amendment.
  Amendment agreed to; words inserted accordingly.
  Clause, as amended, agreed to.
  Clause 19 (Miscellaneous amendments of Act of 1883. 46 & 47 Vict. c. 60) agreed to.
  LORD VENTRY, in moving the insertion of a new clause (19A), the object of which was to enable a landowner, from whom it was proposed to take land compulsorily, to offer, as an alternative, other land in lieu of that proposed to be taken, said, he believed it would make the Bill work much more smoothly, and

  1443
  would also tend to prevent its being used by Sanitary Authorities as an instrument of oppression.
  Moved, To add, in page 10, after Clause 19, the following new clause:—
  (Power to owner to propose alternative schemes.)
  "When in execution of the Labourers (Ireland) Act, 1883, after the completion of an improvement scheme, notice of the compulsory taking of any lands for the purposes of such scheme, or any part thereof, has been served upon any owner or reputed owner, and such owner or reputed owner in his answer to such notice states that he dissents to the taking of such lands; he may in such answer offer to the sanitary authority, instead of such lands, other lands of which he is the owner, and which lands he, with the consent of the occupier thereof, may agree to be appropriated to such purposes.
  "On the consideration of the petition for the confirmation of such scheme, and of the local inquiry to be held in relation thereto, the offer of such owner and the propriety of accepting the same shall be considered, and if such offer shall be accepted the lands specified in such offer may be substituted for the lands originally sought to be taken from such owner compulsorily, and such substitution shall not be deemed to be an addition to the lands proposed in the scheme to be taken compulsorily."—(The Lord Ventry.)
  THE MARQUESS OF WATERFORDsaid, he thought the proposal a fair one, and he would accept it.
  Clause agreed to, and added to the Bill.
  LORD VENTRY LORD VENTRY moved the insertion of a new clause (19B), the object of which was to insure a period of six weeks' notice to a landowner whose land it was proposed to take compulsorily.
  Moved, to add, in page 10, after Clause 19A, the following new clause:—
  (Limit of time for giving answers.)
  "The time within which any owner, or reputed owner and lessee, or reputed lessee, of any lands served with any notice as to the compulsory taking of such lands for an improvement scheme under the Labourers (Ireland) Act, 1883, may give an answer thereto, as required by the said Act, or by this Act, shall be six (6) weeks after the service of such notice."—(The Lord Ventry.)
  THE MARQUESS OF WATERFORDsaid, that there was something fair in the proposal. If the noble Lord would make it 21 days he would accept it.
  LORD VENTRYsuggested a month.
  THE MARQUESS OF WATERFORDsaid, he would accept the term as altered.
  Clause amended, by leaving out, in line 6, the words ("six (6) weeks") and inserting instead the words ("one month.")
  Clause, as amended, agreed to, and added to the Bill.
  LORD VENTRY LORD VENTRY moved the insertion of a new Clause (19c), with the view of enabling the rents due for sites of cottages to be set off against rates due by the landlord in the electoral division in which the cottages were situated.
  Moved, to add, in page 10, after Clause 19B, the following new Clause:—
  "Any person liable to the payment of rates in any sanitary district, and entitled to receive any rents from the sanitary authority of such district in respect of any lands appropriated to any improvement scheme, may from time to time claim, by way of set-off against such rates, the whole or any part of such rents so far as the same had accrued due previous to the striking of such rates, and are payable out of the electoral division in which such lands are situate."—(The Lord Ventry.)
  THE MARQUESS OF WATERFORDsaid, he thought it would be better that the rent should be a set-off for the rates, not in the electoral division, but in the whole Union. The noble Lord's proposal would, he feared, lead to complication. He would suggest that the matter should be dealt with on Report.
  Clause (by leave of the Committee) withdrawn.
  LORD VENTRY LORD VENTRY moved the insertion of a new clause (19D), giving the Local Government Board power to order an inquiry upon the complaint of any person liable to the payment of poor rates as to any breach or non-compliance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Labourers (Ireland) Act, 1883, by the Sanitary Authority; and also giving the Board power to enforce the observance of the section in question by the imposition of a penalty upon the Sanitary Authority.
  Moved, to add, in page 10, after Clause (C), the following new Clause:—
  "When complaint is made to the Local Government Board by any person liable to the payment of poors rates in any sanitary district of any breach of or non-compliance with any of the provisions of section thirteen of the Labourers (Ireland) Act, 1883, by the Sanitary Authority, the Local Government Board may direct a local inquiry, to be held, and if such breach or non-compliance shall be proved at such local inquiry, the Local Government

  1445
  Board may make such order with respect to such breach or non-compliance and for prohibiting the continuance thereof as to the said Board shall seem fit, and may enforce the observance of the same by the imposition of a penalty upon the sanitary authority not exceeding pounds, and by a farther penalty not exceeding pounds for every day after the first during which such breach or non-compliance shall continue."—(The Lord Ventry.)
  THE MARQUESS OF WATERFORDsaid, that the Local Government Board might be trusted to do its duty without any provision of this kind being inserted. He could not accept the clause.
  Clause (by leave of the Committee) withdrawn.
  LORD VENTRY LORD VENTRY moved the insertion of a new clause (19E), to prevent any person in receipt of outdoor relief occupying any of the cottages under the Act.
  Moved, to add, in page 10, after Clause (D), the following new Clause:—
  "It shall not be lawful for the sanitary authority to allow any person who may be in receipt of outdoor relief, other than medical relief, to continue in occupation of any cottage built or acquired under this Act, or of any land of which he may be the tenant under any of the provisions of this Act."—(The Lord Ventry.)
  THE MARQUESS OF WATERFORDsaid, the clause was unnecessary, as the law as it stood was sufficient for the purpose. He could not, therefore, accept it.
  Clause (by leave of the Committee) withdrawn.
  Remaining Clauses agreed to.
  Schedule agreed to.
  The Report of the Amendments to be received on Monday next; and Bill to be printed as amended. (No. 241.)

PUBLIC HEALTH (METROPOLIS) BILL [H.L.]
A Bill to consolidate with amendments certain Acts relating to nuisances, infectious diseases, and other matters concerning public health in the Metropolis—Was presented by The Marquess of Salisbury; read 1ª (No. 240.)
House adjourned during pleasure; and resumed by the Viscount Hawarden.

CRIMINAL LAW AMENDMENT BILL [H.L.]
Returned from the Commons agreed to, with amendments; the said amendments to be printed; and to be considered on Monday next. (No. 242.)
House adjourned at a quarter before One o'clock A.M. to Monday next, a quarter past Four o'clock.