§ And whereas it is desirable to empower the governing body hereinafter constituted of the Imperial Institute, in co-operation with the Governments represented at that Conference, or such of them as for the time being may be making contributions for the purpose, to maintain in the Exhibition Galleries of the Imperial Institute exhibitions illustrative of the resources and development of the Empire; to accept and expend any additional contributions towards the maintenance of such galleries and exhibitions which may be provided by Parliament, and the other Governments aforesaid for that purpose, and where practicable to organise from time to time temporary exhibitions of a similar nature elsewhere:
§ And whereas for enabling effect to be given to the said recommendations and purposes it is expedient that the provisions hereinafter contained should have effect:
§ LORD ARNOLD moved, immediately before the paragraph beginning "And whereas for enabling," to insert: "And whereas it is desirable to make provision that certain accommodation in the Imperial Institute building which has been allocated to the use of the North-brook Society shall continue to be used for Indian purposes." The noble Lord said: My Lords, this Amendment arises out of a proposal made in Committee by Lord Clwyd. He made a strong case for some special recognition of the generous contributions which have been given to the Imperial Institute in past years by Indian Princes and Indian persons. Not only were these representations made by the noble Lord in this House but other representations have been made to the Government on this point, and there seems to be good reason for the new clause, which is consequential, and which I understand will meet the wishes of those interested and ensure that the purposes they have in view will be protected by the Bill. The new clause, which I have to move later, requires an alteration in the 269 Preamble, and that is why I am moving this Amendment.
§
Amendment moved—
Page 2, line 29, at end insert the said words.—(Lord Arnold.)
§ LORD CLWYDMy Lords, may I explain my attitude to this Amendment and also to the new clause which the Government propose to insert? I desire to thank the Government for the insertion of the clause. It really carries out the intention of the Amendment which I proposed in Committee and safeguards the continued use of the accommodation now allocated to India in the Imperial Institute for Indian purposes in the future. The terms and conditions of any future arrangements are to be determined by agreement with the Board of Governors or, in default of agreement, by the Secretary of State for India, and that is a satisfactory solution of that part of the case. The new clause will certainly give much satisfaction to the friends and benefactors of the Imperial Institute in this country and in India. Those friends and benefactors have naturally felt some concern as to the place and influence of India in the future development of the Institute. I thank the noble Lord in charge of the Bill for his courtesy and consideration and for his efforts, happily successful to meet the objections of those with whom I am associated in this matter.
§ On Question, Amendment agreed to.
§ Clause 1:
§ Repeal of Acts and revocation of Charter.
§ 1. With a view to the reconstitution of the Imperial Institute, and the amalgamation therewith of the Imperial Mineral Resources Bureau the Acts of 1902 and 1916 are hereby repealed, and the said Charter is hereby revoked, and the corporation established by the said Charter is hereby dissolved.
§ LORD ARNOLD moved to add to the clause: "Provided that the repeal of the Acts of 1902 and 1916 shall not apply to the provisions of those, Acts relating to the incorporation or powers of the. Imperial Institute Trustees." The noble Lord said: My Lords, I beg formally to move.
§
Amendment moved—
Page 2, line 43, at end insert the said proviso.—(Lord Arnold.)
§ On Question, Amendment agreed to.
270§ Clause 2:
§ Imperial Institute Trustees.
§ 2.—(1) The repeal of the Act of 1902 shall not affect the incorporation or powers of the Imperial Institute Trustees, but that body shall hereafter consist of the persons who for the time being are Lord President of the Council, the First Commissioner of His Majesty's Treasury, the Secretary of State for the Colonies, the Secretary of State for India, the President of the Board of Trade, and the Secretary of the Department of Overseas Trade (Development and Intelligence).
§ (4) The Imperial Institute Trustees may, if requested by the Secretary of the Department of Overseas Trade (Development and Intelligence) (hereinafter referred to as the responsible Minister), with the consent of the Board of Governors hereinafter constituted, sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of any real or personal estate held by them, and apply any proceeds for the purpose of carrying out the objects of this Act or any of those objects to which the property disposed of was applicable, but in the case of the proceeds of sale only in a manner in which capital money is properly applicable.
§ LORD ARNOLDMy Lords, all the Amendments to this clause are designed to meet the views of Lord Emmott, who desired that the Trustees should be increased by the addition of certain unofficial persons. The Government has accepted, practically, the suggestion of the noble Lord. The only difference is that it is desired to retain the President of the Board of Trade as one of the Trustees and the Secretary of State for the Colonies will cease to be, a Trustee. That is the only difference. The other changes are merely drafting. I hope and believe that the, Amendments will meet the views of the noble Lord, and that he will not move his own proposed Amendments.
§ LORD EMMOTTMy Lords, I certainly accept the Amendments put down by the noble Lord and thank him for the way he has met the points I raised.
§ Amendments moved—
§ Page 3, lines 1 and 2, leave out from the beginning of line 1 to ("Imperial") in line 2
§ Page 3, line 3, leave out (", but that body")
§ Page 3, line 6, leave out ("the Secretary of State for the Colonics").—(Lord Arnold.)
§ On Question, Amendments agreed to.
271
§
Amendment moved—
Page 3, line 8, leave out ("and").—(Lord Arnold.)
§ On Question, Amendment agreed to.
§ Amendments moved—
§ Page 3, line 9, at end insert ("(hereinafter referred to as the responsible Minister) and of three other persons having colonial, financial, or commercial experience appointed by the responsible Minister after consultation with the Governor of the Bank of England and the President of the Association of British Chambers of Commerce")
§ Page 3, lines 23 and 24, leave out ("(hereinafter referred to as the responsible Minister)").—(Lord Arnold.)
§ On Question, Amendments agreed to.
§ LORD ARNOLD moved, after Clause 5, to insert the following new clause:
§ Allocation of accommodation for Indian purposes.
§ ". In the event of the accommodation in the Imperial Institute building allocated to the use of the Northbrook Society under an agreement dated the thirteenth Jay of December, one thousand nine hundred and twenty-two, and made between the Imperial Institute and the said society, ceasing at any time to be allocated to the use of the said society, such accommodation shall, if required for any Indian purpose approved by the Secretary of State for India, be allocated for such purpose upon such terms and conditions as may be determined by agreement with the Board of Governors or, in default of agreement, by the Secretary of State for India."
§ The noble Lord said: My Lords, this is the new clause to which I have referred. It is designed to meet the wishes of those who desire that certain accommodation should be allocated for Indian purposes.
§
Amendment moved—
After Clause 5, insert the said new clause.—(Lord Arnold.)
§ On Question, Amendment agreed to.
§ Clause 7:
§ Power to vary provisions of Act.
§ 7. His Majesty in Council may, if an agreement for the purpose is made with the Governments of the self-governing Dominions and India, which for the time being are contributing towards the expenses of the Imperial Institute, by Order in Council vary the provisions of this Act which—
- (a) prescribe the purposes of the Imperial Institute;
- (b) regulate the management of the Imperial Institute;
- (c) prescribe the constitution of the Board of Governors.
§ LORD ARNOLD moved to add the following proviso: "Provided that before a draft of any such Order is submitted to His Majesty in Council it shall be laid before each House of Parliament for a period of not less than twenty-one days during the Session of Parliament." The noble Lord said: My Lords, this is the second of the Amendments designed to meet the views of the Lord Chairman.
§
Amendment moved—
Page 5, line 11, at end insert the said new proviso—(Lord, Arnold.)
§ On Question, Amendment agreed to.
§ Clause 9:
§ Short title, commencement and interpretation.
§ 9.—(1) This Act may be cited as the Imperial Institute Act, 1924.
§ (2) This Act shall come into operation on the first day of October, nineteen hundred and twenty-four, or such day as His Majesty in Council may by Order appoint, and different days may be appointed for different purposes and different provisions of this Act.
§ (3) For the purposes of this Act the expression "self-governing Dominions" means the Dominion of Canada, the Commonwealth of Australia, the Dominion of New Zealand, the Union of South Africa, the Irish Free State and Newfoundland.
§ LORD ARNOLD moved, in subsection (2), to leave out "October," and insert "December." The noble Lord said: My Lords, I am moving this alteration in date for the reasons I have already given.
§
Amendment moved—
Page 5, line 26, leave out ("October") and insert ("December").—(Lord Arnold.)
§ On Question, Amendment agreed to.