Lords Sitting of 6 July 1899

PRIVATE BILL BUSINESS.
The LORD CHANCELLOR acquainted the House that the Clerk of the Parliaments had laid upon the Table the Certificate from the Examiners that the Standing Orders applicable to the following Bill have been complied with:—
LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROVISIONAL ORDERS (No. 6.)
And the Certificate that the further Standing Orders applicable to the following Bill have been complied with:—
WARRINGTON CORPORATION.
The same were ordered to lie on the Table.
DUBLIN CORPORATION BILL.
A witness ordered to attend the Select Committee.
STOCK PORT CORPORATION BILL.

  BRADFORD TRAMWAYS AND IMPROVEMENT BILL.
  Reports of Her Majesty's Attorney-General, received, and ordered to lie on
  the Table.

BURY CORPORATION BILL. [H.L.]
  BURY COPORATION WATER BILL. [H.L.]
  Commons Amendments considered, and agreed to.
WORCESTER COUNTY COUNCIL BILL.
The Chairman of Committees informed the house that the opposition to the Bill was withdrawn: The orders made on the 30th of June last and on Tuesday last discharged; and Bill committed.
AYR BURGH BILL.
  WOKING WATER AND GAS BILL.
  Reported, with Amendments.
LINCOLN AND EAST COAST RAILWAY AND DOCK BILL.
Reported, with Amendment.
IONIAN BANK BILL.
Reported, without Amendments.
MIDLAND AND SOUTH-WERTERN JUCTION RAILWAY BILL.
Reported, with Amendments.
MILLWALL DOCK BILL.
Moved, that the Order made on the 9th day of March last, "That no Private Bill brought from the House of Commons shall be read a second time after Tuesday the 27th day of June next," be dispensed with, and that the Bill be read 2a; agreed to; and Bill read 2a accordingly.
AIRE AND CALDER NAVIGATION BILL.
Read 3a, with the Amendments, and passed, and returned to the Commons.
MIDLAND RAILWAY BILL.
Read 3a, with the Amendments; a further Amendment made; Bill passed, and returned to the Commons.
LEITH HARBOUR AND DOCKS BILL.
Read 3a, with the Amendments, and passed, and returned to the Commons.
SMALL HOUSES (ACQUISITION OF OWNERSHIP) BILL.
Brought from the Commons.
YORKE ESTATE BILL. [H.L.]
Returned from the Commons agreed to.
BARRY RAILWAY BILL.
  KENSINGTON AND NOTTING HILL ELECTRIC LIGHTING BILL.

    LANCASHIRE AND YORKSHIRE RAILWAY (NEW RAILWAYS) BILL.
    LANCASHIRE AND YORKSHIRE RAILWAY (VARIOUS POWERS) BILL.
    Returned from the Commons with the Amendments agreed to.

COBHAM GAS BILL. [H.L.]
  STRETFORD GAS BILL. [H.L.]
  Returned from the Commons agreed to, with Amendments: the said Amendments considered, and agreed to.
DUBLIN CORPORATION BILL.
Message to the Commons for leave for Thomas Wallace Russell, Esquire (a Member), to attend the Select Committee.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT (IRELAND) PROVISIONAL ORDER (No. 4) BILL.
House to be in Committee on Tuesday next.
RETURNS, REPORTS, &c.

  ROYAL NIGER COMPANY.
  1882–1893. Notes on the Niger District and Niger Coast Protectorates.
  1885, 5th June. Notification—British Protectorate over Niger Districts.
  1886, 10th July. Royal Charter—a"National African Company."
  1887, 18th October. Notification—British Protectorate over Niger Districts, "National African Company," now called "Royal Niger Company."
  1884–1892. List of Treaties—National Africa Company and Royal Niger Company with Native Chiefs.
  1893, 13th May. Notification—"Oil Rivers Protectorate" to be called the "Niger Coast Protectorate."
  Royal Niger Company Balance Sheets—Balance Sheets of the Royal Niger Company for each year from 1887 to 1898 inclusive.
  Niger Government (Accounts)—Statements of Revenue and Expenditure from 1887 to 1898 inclusive.

  TRADE REPORTS—ANNUAL SERIES.
  No. 2309. Spain (Barcelona and District).
  No. 2310. Austria-Hungary (Fiume).
  No 2311. Italy (Province of Lecce).

  SALMON AND FRESHWATER FISHERIES (ENGLAND) AND WALES).
  Thirty-eighth Annual Report of the Inspectors of Fisheries (for 1898).

  SEA FISHERIES (ENGLAND AND WALES).
  Thirteenth Annual Report of the Inspectors (for 1898).
  Presented (by command), and ordered to lie on the Table.

  SCIENCE AND ART DEPARTMENT.
  Minutes of Committee of Council on Education, sanctioning the subjects to be taught under Clause 8 of the Technical Instruction Act, 1889, for counties of—Worcester (fifth minute); Salop (fourth minute); Rutland (fourth minute); and county boroughs of—South Shields (third minute); Limerick (sixth minute); Limerick (seventh minute).

  INDIA (LOANS RAISED IN INDIA).
  Return of all loans raised in India under the provisions of any Acts of Parliament chargeable on the revenues of India outstanding at the commencement of the half-year ended on the 31st March 1899, with the rates of interest and total amount payable thereon, &.:
  Laid before the House (pursuant to Act) awl ordered to lie on the Table.

  MARRIAGES VALIDITY (No. 2) BILL. [H.L.]
  A Bill to remove doubts as to the validity of certain marriages—Was presented by the Lord Macnaghten; read 3a; to be printed; and to he read 2a on Monday next. (No. 157).

  POOR LAW ACTS AMENDMENT BILL [H.L.]
  House in Committee (according to Order).
  Clause 1:—
  LORD HARRIS: The noble Earl opposite (the Earl of Kimberley) raised a question the other day as to the wisdom of the expression "parent" in Clause 1. The noble Earl pointed out that though one parent might have misbehaved, the other parent might be well behaved, and he questioned the desirability of taking any right away front the latter parent. I am advised by the Local Government Board that the intention and the effect of the Bill certainly is to take away only the powers of the parent who is described in this sub-section. Your Lordships will observe that, under Section 1, the guardians may at any time resolve that, until the child reaches the age of 18 years, all rights and powers of the parent—that is, of course, the parent who lots misbehaved—in respect of the child shall, subject, as in the Act mentioned, vest in the guardians. If, however, there is any doubt on the point, the Local Government Board will be prepared in the Standing Committee to put in words to make the effect clear.
  THE EARL OF KIMBERLEY: One or two Amendments have been suggested to me, and I have informed the noble Lord in charge of the Bill of them, but I think they will be more conveniently dealt with in the Standing Committee. I will not, therefore, trouble the House with any observations at this stage.
  LORD HARRIS: The Local Government Board are considering the Amendments submitted by the noble Earl, and will, if necessary, make suggestions in the Standing Committee.
  Clause 4:—
  LORD HARRIS: The noble Earl also asked me the other day to consider whether it was advisable that the control of the guardians over young persons who had been put out to service should be in any way extended. The Poor Law Apprentices Act makes it the business of the Poor Law Guardians to take care that the young persons placed out by them are visited, up to the age of 16, not less than twice a year, in order to make certain that he or she is receiving proper food, and is not being ill-treated. The Local Government Board still think, in view of the recommendations of many Poor Law Unions, that it would be wise to extend those visits beyond the place of first service. It seems to them that, if it is desirable that young persons should be visited when they first go out to service, that desirability extends whether the boy or girl is in the place of first service or not. In may happen that the child has no parents at all, and no relatives to look after him or her, and it would surely be beneficial, and in the interests of the child, that somebody should take care that he or she is being well treated and well fed. Again, there is the risk of undesirable relatives tempting the child away from the place of first service, in order to deprive the guardians of the power of control. As at present advised, I think it would be wise to leave the Bill as it stands.
  THE EARL OF KIMBERLEY: Does this clause relate only to apprenticed children?
  LORD HARRIS: And to children placed out in service.
  THE EARL OF KIMBERLEY: I was under a misapprehension the other day,
  6
  because I conceived that it related to all children and not to apprenticed children only. With regard to the extension of the law under the Apprenticeship Act, I should be rather disposed, subject to further consideration, to agree with the noble Earl opposite.
  Bill reported without Amendment, and re-committed to the Standing Committee.

ELEMENTARY EDUCATION (DEFECTIVE AND EPILEPTIC CHILDREN) BILL. [H.L.]
  SUMMARY JURISDICTION ACT (1879) AMENDMENT BILL.
  Amendments reported (according to Order), and Bills to be read 3a To-morrow.
  EDUCATION OF CHILDREN BILL.
  Read 3a (according to Order), and passed.

  SMALL HOUSES (ACQUISITION OF OWNERSHIP) BILL.
  Read 1a; and to be printed. (No. 158.)
  House adjourned at twenty minutes before Five of the clock, till To-morrow, thirty minutes after Ten of the clock.