HL Deb 22 April 1913 vol 14 cc251-3

Order of the Day for the House to be put into Committee, read.

Moved, That the House do now resolve itself into Committee.—(Viscount Galway.)

On Question, Motion agreed to.

House in Committee accordingly.

[The EARL OF DONOUGHMORE in the Chair.]

Clause 1 agreed to.

Clause 2:

Protection of general public.

2. In the case of every ferry acquired under this Act, regulations with regard to the working may be made by the Board of Trade for the protection from injury of passengers and the general public.

THE EARL OF GRANARD

I have three small Amendments to this clause. When the Bill was before the House on a previous occasion an Amendment was inserted by Lord Russell making it permissive that regulations made under Clause 2 should be drafted by the Board of Trade. I have been in consultation with the Board of Trade in regard to this matter, and they think that it would be much more suitable in every way if the regulations were made by the county councils, who are cognisant of all the local conditions, and that these rules should then come up to the Board of Trade for confirmation. I therefore propose to strike out "Board of Trade" and insert "county council." I also propose to leave out "may" and insert "shall," which will have the effect, in the case of a county council acquiring any ferry, of compelling the county council to make rules, and they will be confirmed by the Board of Trade. According to the clause as at present drafted it is purely permissive. I also move to add a further provision at the end of the clause. I understand that the noble Viscount is prepared to accept these Amendments.

Amendments moved—

Clause 2, page 2, line 29, leave out ("may") and insert ("shall")

Clause 2, page 2, line 30, leave out ("Board of Trade") and insert ("county council")

Clause 2, page 2, line 31, after ("public") insert ("provided that no such regulations shall have any force or validity until the same have been confirmed by the Board of Trade with or without amendment. Offenders against such regulations shall be liable to such penalties, not exceeding forty shillings, as may be thereby prescribed").—(The Earl of Granard.)

VISCOUNT GALWAY

I agree that the county council, knowing the locality, will be the best authority to first make the regulations, and I accept the Amendments.

LORD KILLANIN

In the case of Ireland, will the rules drawn up by the county council be subject to the approval of the Board of Trade?

THE EARL OF GRANARD

I think the Local Government Board is the authority in Ireland.

LORD KILLANIN

Is it stated in the Bill that references to the Board of Trade shall mean the Local Government Board in Ireland?

THE EARL OF GRANARD

I think the point is provided for in Clause 4, but I will look into it before the next stage of the Bill is taken.

On Question, Amendments agreed to.

Clause 2, as amended, agreed to.

Remaining clauses agreed to.

The Report of Amendments to be received To-morrow, and Bill to be printed as amended. (No. 28.)