PLYMOUTH CORPORATION BILL. [H.L.] (Hansard, 16 June 1915)

THE CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES (THE EARL OF DONOUGHMORE)

My Lords, before I move that this Bill do pass, there is one small point that I think I ought to explain to your Lordships. This Bill as introduced contained two clauses which were not in accordance with your Lordships' Model Bill—a clause which dealt with gas fittings, and a clause which dealt with electric fittings; and as soon as the Bill was known of I received letters from several of your Lordships desiring to move the rejection of the Bill on Second Reading. I appealed to those noble Lords to allow the Bill to go to Committee. They were good enough to consent to that course, and the Committee passed both of these clauses. Subsequent to the Committee negotiations, which I initiated, took, place between all the parties, and the result has been a settlement on the following lines. The promoters withdrew the electric fittings clause and substituted the Model Clause as regards electric fittings which is found in your Lordships' Model Bill. The gas fittings clause, however, is not in the model form. The corporation are allowed to trade in gas fittings on the same lines as the old Devonport Corporation—now part of the 60 Plymouth Corporation—were allowed to trade. The reason why I appealed to the noble Lords who are opposed to the clause to withdraw their opposition was this, that under the faith of a Parliamentary title—namely, under a clause in the Devon-port Corporation Act—the old Devonport Corporation had spent some £70,000 in building up their business. I thought it would. be unreasonable, as this expenditure had been made on capital account under a Parliamentary title, that any action of your Lordships should cause the practical waste of that sum now. For that reason, my Lords, I recommended this compromise to both parties, and I desire to acknowledge the courtesy with which they met me and agreed to it.