§ Bill read 3a (according to Order).
§ On Motion, "That the Bill do pass,"
§ THE LORD CHANCELLOR (Lord HERSCHELL)said, that objection had been taken, in a Petition presented from the Corporation of Newcastle, to the clause which empowered the building or creation of private asylums. In his opinion, the clause was not one which was likely to involve the Local Authorities in any any pecuniary obligation or loss. He 1614 thought that, on the whole, the power which was given would be found advantageous rather than the reverse, from a pecuniary point of view. He felt however, that there might be some reasonable grounds for the objoction taken, that whereas power was given to the Justices to determine whether such buildings should be erected, or whether they should take part in such erection, the administration of the funds in towns was vested in the Town Councils. He proposed to move an Amendment, to provide that where these asylums were to be erected for paying patients as well as non-paying patients, the powers of the Bill should not be exercised in municipal boroughs, except with the consent of the Town Council. There were some other Amendments to be proposed, which, however, were merely formal.
§ Amendments made.
§ Bill passed, and sent to the Commons.