§ Order of the Day for the Third Reading read.
§ Moved, "That the Bill be now read 3a."—(Lord Balfour of Burleigh.)
§ On Question, Bill read 3a.
§ LORD BALFOUR OF BURLEIGH moved an Amendment to Sub-section 2 of Clause 2. This sub-section provided that any local authority might make by-laws for regulating, restricting, or preventing the exhibition of advertisements in such places and in such manner, or by such means, as to affect injuriously the amenities of a health or pleasure resort, public park, promenade, or to disfigure the natural beauty of a landscape. He moved to leave out the words, "health or pleasure resort," and to insert, 927 before the word "promenade," the word "pleasure." The object of the Amendment was to limit the scope of the measure, and it had been put down in the hope of conciliating some opposition to the Bill, which was considered too drastic as it stood. Those promoting the Bill had agreed to this Amendment as a concession, with a view of obviating opposition in the House of Commons. The promoters, however, desired to make themselves secure from any charge of breach of faith by stating now that if that hope was falsified they would, in a subsequent session, reintroduce the Bill in its present form.
§
Amendment moved—
In Clause 2, page 1, line i4, to leave out the words 'health or pleasure resort,' and after the word 'park' to insert the word 'pleasure.'"—(Lord Balfour of Burleigh.)
§ LORD HERRIESasked why the word "pleasure" was proposed to be inserted before "promenade."
LORD BALFOUR OF BURLEIGHreplied that it was part of the bargain that had been made. He did not attach importance to it himself, and he was quite sure that the promoters of the Amendment did not attach so much importance to it as they did to the omission of the other words proposed to be left out; and if the noble Lord had any strong objection to the insertion of the word "pleasure" he would not press it. But on the whole he thought it would be better to let the Amendment pass as it stood on the Paper in the hope that it would conciliate opposition in the other House.
§ LORD HERRIESWhat sort of a promenade is a pleasure promenade?
LORD BALFOUR OF BURLEIGHI can only answer that I suppose it is a promenade used for pleasure. That question must be one of fact to be decided as it arises.
§ On Question, Amendment agreed to.
§ Privilege Amendment agreed to.
LORD BALFOUR OF BURLEIGH, in moving that the Bill do now pass, 928 explained that the proviso to Clause 2 was to the effect that a local authority, in making by-laws under the section, should provide for the exemption from the operation of such by-laws of any hoardings and similar structures in use for advertising purposes, and of any advertisements exhibited at the time of the making of the by-laws, for such period, not being less than twelve months, as they might think fit. For the sake of peace they would have been quite willing to increase that period, but just as they were agreeing to that with one set of opponents another set stated that they would prefer no period at all. He was afraid that this matter, if it was to be settled, must be a matter of negotiation in another place; and, therefore, he refrained from suggesting to the House-the making of any Amendment at the present time.
§ Moved, "That the Bill do now pass."—(Lord Balfour of Burleigh.)
§ On Question, Bill passed, and sent to the Commons.