HL Deb 24 April 1896 vol 39 cc1609-10

The House went into Committee on this Bill.

Clause 1,—

[SHORT TITLE.]

This Act may be cited as the Retirement of Vestrymen (London) Act 1896.

LORD HARRIS moved to insert after "vestrymen" the words "and auditor." He said that at present auditors were elected in the same way as vestrymen, and, as he understood, one of the objects of the noble Lord (Lord Monkswell) in promoting the Bill was to reduce expense, it was obviously desirable that auditors should be included in the Bill; otherwise expense would have to be incurred in separate elections.

LORD MONKSWELL

said he had no objection to the alteration.

Amendment agreed to.

Clause, as amended, added to the Bill.

Clause 2,—

[DEFINITIONS.]

In this Act,—

  1. (1.) The expression "the Council" means the London County Council.
  2. (2.) The expression "vestry" means a vestry elected under the Metropolis Management Acts, 1855 to 1890, and any Act amending the same.

LORD HARRIS moved that "vestry" should include "the Woolwich Local Board of Health, as if the members thereof were vestrymen." He said the Local Board at Woolwich retired annually by thirds. Woolwich was within the Metropolitan area, and the Local Board discharged many of the duties of the London vestries, being for example the sanitary authority; and it seemed desirable that the Bill should extend to the governing body of the parish of Woolwich, in the same way as to other parts of the Metropolis.

LORD MONKSWELL

said, he entirely concurred with the noble Lord.

Amendment agreed to.

Clause, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clause 4,—