§
Clause 23, page 21, line 26, at end insert:
("( ) In the case of an Art Union constituted under a deed or other instrument, not being a charter, the power of annulment referred to in the foregoing subsection may be exercised also by the President of the Board of Trade or, in his absence, by a Secretary of State, if, in the opinion of the President or Secretary of State, as the case may be, it is expedient, having regard to the circumstances, that immediate action be taken in the matter.")
§ THE MARQUESS OF LONDONDERRYMy Lords, the object of this Amendment is to enable the Board of Trade to take immediate action, should the need arise, to revoke any instrument constituting an Art Union and to put a, stop to its activities. The effect of the clause as it is drawn at present is to provide that His Majesty may, on a recommendation from the Board of Trade, revoke the instrument constituting the Art Union on grounds other than actual perversion— 486 that is, for persistent failure to comply with the rules of the Art Union as to the contents of the advertisement of a drawing, and SO on. The method of obtaining the revocation of any, instrument, by obtaining the consent of His Majesty after certification or recommendation by the Board of Trade is not necessarily, in practice, the most expeditious, and in view of the circumstances surrounding the case of a recent Art Union, it is desirable to replace it by some quicker procedure which can be available in case of necessity. I beg to move.
§ Moved, That this House doth agree with the Commons in the said Amendment.—(The Marquess of Londonderry.)
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.