The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-07-07 00:00:00

THE CORRUPT PRACTICES BILL.

The House then went into Committee on the Corrupt Frac-
slces Bill, resuming with Clause 15, which makes the use of
a committee-room in public•houses and houses where intoxi-
cating liquor is sold an illegal hiring.
An amendment moved by Mr. C. Bentinck to exempt
,Counties gave ri,e to a long discussion on the principle of
the clause, which was energetically condemned by Mr.
Onslow, Baron de 'Worms, Mr. NV arton, Sir H. Wolff, Mr.
lifkar, and others as utterly unworkable; and the Attorney-
General, in order to take away the appearance of aiming
specially at the licensed victuallers, offered to extend the
!,iitutte to all houses where refreshment is sold for consump•
'ton on the premises, and promised to bring up a proviso
that the clause should not apply to rooms used for general
Meetings of the electors.
The amendment was then withdrawn, and Mr. Stanhope
Moved a further amendment limiting the prohibition to
Premises licensed for the sale of intoxicating liquors.

On a division this was negatived by 169 to 141 ; and the
Attorney-General thereupon moved, in deference to the
feelings of the large minority, an amendment which would
bet include within the prohibition the premises of permanent
Political clubs.

This was agreed to, and progress having been reported,
'he sitting was suspended at ten minutes to seven o'clock.
-

At the evening sitting the Committee on the Bill was re-
ltned, and at the instance of the Attorney. General an
L'axlendment was made in Clause 15 making it an illegal
tu;ing to take for an election committee-room any premises
Whereon refreshments of any kind, whether food or drink,
tre ordinarily sold for consumption on the premises.
Au amendment, moved by Mr. Stanhope, to prohibit the
of the premises of any public elementary school in re-
felpt of an annual parliamentary grant as a committee-
was also agreed to. On the Clause as amended being
fut, it was opposed by many hon, members as being calcu-
ated to cause the greatest inconvenience.
u4fter a protracted discussion, the Committee divided at
"40-Dast twelve o'clock, and agreed to the Clause by 146
to 111,

, Eventually progress was reported, and the House, having
'llBDosed of the other orders,
adjourned at twenty minutes
Dftst one.

ELECTRIC LIGHTING.

tnin the HoUSE or CommoNs, on the order for the second
'ading of the Electric Lighting Provisional Orders (No. 4)

Sir H. Vivian asked what provision had been made for the
tePresentations of the district authorities against this Bill,
abd 'whether the Board of Trade intended to refer it to a
%elect or a hybrid Committee.
hlit J. Holms said the undertakings were of a nove
aracter, and these were the first provisional orders which
come before the House since the passing of the Act. It
;▪ as proposed to refer them to a hybrid Committee so that
v"Y might be fully considered but the Government was
Pc'
much in the hands of the House, and, therefore, it was
"Den to anyone to make any other suggestions.
ra,l:lT- Stanhope said unless the Bills were opposed it was not
'en use referring them to a Committee, as the points of
watail would not be properly brought out except by
°DPosition.
Sir G, Campbell considered that it was all the more necPs-
;,▪ 1111' to refer the Bills to a Committ-e if they were not
Posed. It was very necessary that they should be seruti-
"dsed before they were passed. The present Bill sinned
ZEttinst some of the principles which he should Pave thought
President of the Board of Trade and the Government
;oUld have insisted upon—viz the principle of local
avnomY and local self-government. He thought they
ould be very careful in matters of that kind.
hskr. Stevenson observed that the subject of electric light-
was fully considered by a Select Committee last year,
-41t1 there was no opposition to this Bill.
A.. Otway recommended the House to adopt the sug-
'▪ "tion ot the Secretary to the Board of Trade.
The Bill was then read a second time.

Ihe House then went into Committee on the Corrupt
jactiees Bill, and seyeral amendments had been disposed
i.s4. When the hour for suspending busigess arrived. Pro.
jne„_4B Irks then reported, and the House soon after ad-