HEALTH RESORTS AND WATERING PLACES BILL. (Hansard, 10 May 1921)

§ LORD EMMOTT
My Lords, this little Bill is quite different from the measure which came before your Lordships last session. It has, indeed, been altered to give effect to the criticisms made at that time. The objection to the Bill of last year was that the proceeds of a penny rate, levied in a locality, might be used for the purpose of advertising outside that locality. That Bill was supported by the Government, but when it came to your Lordships' House it was met by powerful opposition. It was pointed out that its provisions were against the practice of Private Bill legislation which had been observed in this House, and the noble Earl, the Lord Chairman, opposed it on that ground. I am glad to believe that the Lord Chairman is willing to support the Second Reading of this Bill, although he may have sonic objection on matters of detail in regard to Committee points.
The Bill proposes that profits received from the letting of chairs, tents, tent sites, bathing machines, platform sites for entertainments, or from charges of admission to gardens, parks and enclosures, or the profits derived from entertainments, may be used for the purpose of advertising watering places and health resorts, provided the sum so spent does not exceed the amount equivalent to the proceeds of a penny rate. Such a provision is in accordance with clauses in many private Bills. As the Lord Chairman reminded your Lordships last year provisions of that kind have been allowed in Private Bill legislation in Bills emanating from Brighton, Hove, Aberystwyth, St. Anne's, Weymouth, Southport, Appleby, Llandrindod Wells and other places; and the amount that they are allowed to spend varies from one halfpenny to twopence in the somewhat unusual case of Llandrindod Wells. This Bill passed unanimously through the other house, no voice being raised, against it; and as every effort has been made to meet the criticisms expressed in your Lordships' House last session, I hope you will give this Bill a Second Reading and enable it to pass into law during t he present session.

THE CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES (THE EARL. OF DONOUGHMORF)
My Lords, the noble Lord has referred to the fact that, to my regret, I had to oppose the Bill of last year, but I hope that will not prevent me joining with him in supporting the Second Reading of the present measure. He has been good enough to ask me to discuss particular points with him. There are certain matters which may have to be considered in Committee, not concerned with the principle of the measure, but aimed at getting the Bill more in accordance with the practice of Private Bill legislation. I have drafted those Amendments and will put them down either this evening or to-morrow. I hope the noble Lord will not take the Committee stage before Whitsuntide as the delay will give us an opportunity of discussing these Amendments. I think we shall have no difficulty in agreeing upon them. I will not trouble your Lordships with the details of the Amendments, and, subject to that point, I support the Second Reading of the Bill.

§ LORD ASKWITH
My Lords, the Bill of last year was thrown out on my Motion by a majority of thirty-eight to twelve. I have looked up the OFFICIAL REPORT and I find that it was expressly explained that the objection to that Bill was that a penny rate was placed on local authorities. The present measure endeavours to meet the objections which were raised and to place the expenditure upon the amenities which may be run in any health resort. I do not, therefore, propose to offer any objection to it, but shall support the Second Reading.

§ LORD SOUTHWARK
My Lords, I shall have great pleasure in supporting the Second Reading. The noble Earl, the Lord Chairman, has intimated his intention of putting down some Amendments. I will not anticipate their nature, but I hope he will be more kind to my noble friend than he was to me last year.

§ LORD EMMOTT
With regard to the point mentioned by the Lord Chairman I will, of course, put down the Committee stage for some date after Whitsuntide convenient to bins, and I shall be grateful to him if he will confer with me and particularly with those who are the real supporters of this measure.