Sitting of 10 June 1837

MINUTES.
Bills. Read a third time:—Pillory Abolition.

MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS, (ENGLAND) ACT.
Lord J. Russell Lord J. Russell moved the Order of the Day for the consideration of the Lords' amendments to the Municipal Corporations Act Amendment (England and Wales) Bill.
The noble Lord observed with respect to this Bill that it was most desirable, considering the pressing nature of the case, and the great length of time the Bill had already been before Parliament, that a measure of a nature similar to the present should pass in the present Session. For that reason he should propose that the Lords' amendments to the Bill should be agreed to as far as it was possible to consent to them, and he should only therefore oppose those parts to which he felt it impossible to agree. The first amendment in which he could not concur was that which provided that the councillor assessed to the largest amount of poor-rates should be the person to preside at the election of councillors in the different wards. He could not consent to the principle that the largest rate-payer should in all cases be the presiding councillor, but, acting under the desire that the measure should pass with as little delay as possible, he should not propose to strike
1382
out the clause, but only to amend it by providing that the councillors from amongst themselves should elect the presiding councillor, and that only in cases of disagreement the largest rate-payer should be selected.
Mr. Brothertondoubted much whether the principle of selecting the largest ratepayer was a good one; and he knew a case when the person who was assessed to the largest amount of rates in a borough was unable to write his name.
Mr. Bernalagreed with the opinion expressed by the hon. Member for Salford (Mr. Brotherton), but as they could not force others to take the same views as themselves, and as it was desirable the measure should pass, their object ought to be to have it passed in the least injurious shape possible.
Amendment agreed to, as were several other amendments.
Lord J. Russellcould not agree to the clauses inserted by the other House regarding the auditing of the accounts. The board of auditors had stated various reasons why they could not perform in a satisfactory manner the duties which would be required from them, should such a provision be continued in the Bill; and he thought, when their Lordships were made acquainted with those reasons, they would see sufficient cause for altering the clauses which had been inserted. It was stated that if this new duty was thrown upon the board of audit, a great additional expense would necessarily be incurred; and that in fact, a new department would require to be established. For these reasons he would propose that clauses T and U be left out.
Motion agreed to.
Other amendments were agreed to, and on the motion of Lord J. Russell a Committee was appointed to draw up reasons for disagreeing to certain amendments of the Lords.

REGISTRATION OF BIRTHS AND MARRIAGES.
House in Committee on the Registration of Births and Marriages Acts Amendment Bill.
Several clauses were agreed to.
Lord J. Russellobserved, that it had been on a former occasion stated by the hon. Member for the University of Oxford (Sir R. Inglis) as a case of great hardship, that the clergy should by this act be obliged to perform a civil duty uncon-

1383
nected with their sacred functions without receiving any remuneration. The hon. Member alluded to those parts of the Act which required the clergyman to make two copies of every entry of marriage, and to deliver four times in every year to the superintendent-registrar a certified copy of all the entries made by him in the marriage book since the date of the previous certificate. Since the subject had been brought forward he (Lord J. Russell) had on consideration framed a clause which, although it did not go so far as the hon. Gentleman proposed, would he thought, provide a remedy for the evil of which he had complained. The clause he had to propose provided that every clergyman should receive 6d. for every certified entry.
Clause added.
Various other clauses were added and amendments made.
The House resumed.

STEAM-BOAT EXPLOSION AT HULL.
Mr. Wakleywished to ask the noble Lord the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Government had sent an engineer to inquire into the late disastrous occurrence at Hull
Lord J. Russellreplied that no person had been sent.
Mr. Wakleyhoped the noble Lord would feel it his duty to send some qualified person to inquire into the circumstances under which the explosion had taken place. It was a very serious case, and he thought an investigation should take place into the causes of the accident, and that that investigation should be intrusted to some disinterested person, and not be left entirely to the local authorities.
Mr. C. Woodsaid, there certainly was a person appointed to examine and to take care of the Government steamers; but he had never heard that the Government or the Admiralty were bound to provide inspectors to examine into the condition of the steam-boats and their machinery throughout the kingdom. The whole facts, which it was now possible to learn, would be brought out before the coroner; though he doubted much whether, under the circumstances, any evidence could be obtained as to the cause of the accident. At all events, until the coroner's inquest was over, he did not think there would be any utility in sending down an engineer.
Mr. Chapmanthought a person should be appointed to inspect the condition of
1384
all steam-boats once every three months. In the present case he had heard that the boiler was not sufficient.
Mr. Wakleysaid, his object was, that the Government should send some competent person to attend the coroner's inquest, and he thought the present case was as important as that of the railways to Brighton, in regard to which an engineer had been appointed.
The conversation dropped.

Preamble
MINUTES.] Bills. Received the Royal Assent:—Consolidated Fund Read a first time:—Turnpike Acts, Continuations, and Royal Military Canal.