§ [SECOND READING.]
§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
THE EARL OF YARBOROUGHMy Lords, when the district councils were created it was enacted that one-third of the councillors should vacate office annually; but power was given to the county council, on the request of any district council, to vary this procedure and to require that all the councillors should vacate office simultaneously every third year. No power, however, was given to the county council to rescind this order should the district council wish to return to the normal procedure. This case has arisen at Woodbridge in Suffolk, and the Law Officers of the Crown have ruled that a Bill is necessary to remedy the omission. This Bill has passed the other House without opposition; it has not been opposed by the Local Government Board; and therefore I ask your Lordships to give it a Second Reading.
§ LORD JAMES OF HEREFORDIn the absence of my noble friend Lord Harris, I am asked to say that the Local Government Board approve of this Bill, as representing a practical way of getting over the difficulty to which the noble Earl has referred.
§ Bill read 2a (according to Order), and committed to a Committee of the whole House on Thursday next.