§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
§ LORD AMULREEMy Lords, in 1787, under the Wandon Enclosure Act (at that time the parish of Wavendon was called Wandon), certain lands were awarded to the churchwardens and overseers of the parish to provide inhabitants of property in the parish which was of a rateable value not exceeding £5 a year with fuel. In 1809 an agreement was made with the Duke of Bedford, under the 50th Parliament of George III, by which he undertook to supply 100 tons of coal a year, if the cost of coal exceeded £1 10s. a ton. Now, following the revision of the rating of property, the method of measuring property according to yearly value ceases to operate. On that value only 26 persons are entitled to receive benefits under the trust, and many of these could not be called poor; whereas there are many people who can be considered poor yet who, because they live in property having a rateable value of more than £5, cannot be beneficiaries under this charity.
The object of the Bill is to remove the rating qualification and to provide that beneficiaries under the charity shall be needy persons who have lived in Wavendon for not less than one year. Parliamentary sanction has to be obtained because it involves the alteration of an Act 335 of Parliament. There is one point that I should like to mention to your Lordships. One of the new trustees mentioned in the Bill has, unfortunately, died, but I think that we can continue with the procedure because the remaining trustees will appoint a new trustee as soon as the Bill becomes law. The Bill has been widely advertised, and so far as I know no objection has been received. I beg to move that the Bill be now read a second time.
§ Moved, That the Bill be now read 2a.—(Lord Amulree.)
§ On Question, Bill read 2a: Committee negatived.