The Express.
London, England, 1862-07-03 00:00:00

METROPOLIS LOCAL MANAGEMENT ACTS

AMENDMENT SILL
The house resumed the committee as this bilL
Oa the consideration of a clausemoved by Mr. ATRTON at
the last sitting relative to the election of members of the

Mr. LOCKE said the object of the amendment proposed
by his hon. friend the member for the Tower Hamlets (Mr.
Ayrtoo) was to give the ratepayers at large the right of
electing members of the Metropolises Board of Works, in-
stead of the vestry being entrusted with that power. He
objected altogether to the Fermi enetitution of the bend,
arid cristended that like every other body throughout the
couutry, the members should be elected by the ratepayen.
Mr. TITE defended the pressen ametitution of the board.
The present system worked weil, and it wen a perfectlysocial
qmention, and not in any manner a political one. He also
thought that if any change were to be made it should not
be made incidentally by way of a resolution like that pro-
posed by the boo. member for the Tower Hamlets.
Mr. WILLIAMS agreed that the principle of electing
members of the Metropolitan Board of Works by the great
mass of the Women wee a just principle, but he felt its
owatiou would be attended with a vast deal more difficulty
this seemed to have been anticipated.
Sir J. SHELLEY admitted that the Metropolitan Board
of Works had well and carefully dose its duty, notwith-
stinding the great difficulties in its way. He thought,
however. As members should be the direct representatives
of the ratepayers at large. The effect of the amendment
would be entirely to remove the only objection to the con-
stitution of the board.

Sir G. OBEY opposed the clause, and hoped the com-
mittee would come to a decision upon it without going into
other matters which were not before it. He tnougbt it
would be better to &scum the principle involved in the
amendment on its own pounds and on another occenion.
Lord J. MANNERS did not think it would be right for a
small committee to decide on so important a question as
the constitution of the Board of Worka, and hoped the
bon. and learned member would not divide the committee
on the question.
Lord FERMOY laid that he had heard the Board of
Works found fault with by members in that home, but be
bad no evidence either pubiic or private that his consti-
tuents or the inhabitants of the metropolis were discon-
tented with that board. The proposition of his hon. and
learned friend was, he believed, rightfin the abstract, but he
could not vote for it till he had better endows than he
Ind at present that the people of the metropolis were dis-
emitesited with the Board of Works.

Mr. H. B. SHERIDAN supported the clause.
Mr. H. LEWIS said that he believed the people of
Marylebone were perfectly mamboed with the able man-
ger in which they were represented at the Board of Works.
The amendment of the boa, and Merged member for the
Tower Hamlets was perfectly radios! is its character.
(Hear, bear.) It might not be the worse for that, but as be
did not think the people were dissatisfied with the board he
did not feel himself at liberty to support the amendment.
Mr. AY ETON said that Marylebone stood in a different
position from the rest of the metropolis, for it had its own
particular council, which assumed to itself most extraordi-
nary power.. He thought the ratepayers ought to be repre-
sented directly on the board. It was not true to say that
they were represented now. It was the vestries who were
represented, and if the members of that house were retuned
in the same way, the House of Commons would be nothing
bat a represeetation of vestrymen. They had been told that
the Board of Works had the confidence of the public. The
Thames Embankment Bill showed that they had not the
confidence of the public, and that they were a mere board
of foremen for the purpose of carrying out the will
of the Chief Commissiouer of Works when he wanted some.
thing to be done which he considered to be lemma himself.
But if the Board of Works wished to remain in the dirt it
was not for him to offer pearls to swine, and therefore he
should withdrew his amendment. (" Hear, hear," and
laughter.)
The amendment was accordingly withdrawn.
Mr. COX moved& claws, the effect of which would be to
repeal the 6th section of the 18th and 19th Vict... c.
which ties at 401. the value of rate or sasessineut to poor
relief qualifying a person to become a vestryman ; sad to
substitute a clause which would abolish all limitation what-
ever, and render every person rated to the poor eligible to
the other of vestryman.
Mr. TITE thought, judging from his experience, that it
would be undesirable to alter the qualifiatiun for vestry.
men. He must the clause.
Sir J. SHELLEY supported the clause.
Mr. A YRTON expreamed his surprise at the oppositiou of
the hoe. member fur Bath. He thought he would de better
to carry out the wishes of the patent of the bill, Mr.
Bristow, and support the clause.
The committee divided, and the numbers were :
For the clause
Against
_

The ciLue was consequently rejected.
Mr. LOCKE moved a clime to render persons in receipt
of fees or poundage, or other emolument by way of salary,
out of the rates and taxes, ineligible to be elected as
vestrymen...

LAYARD was sorry to oppose his hon. colleague,
but he had received very strong repreeeutotioos from many
of hie mwetituenta against the clause. (A laugh.)
Mr. AYATON thought that the clause would be very
useful if it were passed in a modified form.
Mr G. GREY said he did not think any caw had been
stated for a change of the law on this subject.
After some convereatiou,
The cornuuttee divided, when there appeared :
For the clause
Against 4B-19

The clime+, was therefore rejected.
Mr. AYRTON moved the repeal of the 30th and 41st
intimun of the 18th andl9th Vic., 0.120, whereby the vestry
or district board is empowered to eleet ita chairman on every
cockatoo of ite meeting, and to substitute clauses whereby
the chairman *Ladd be elected fur the period of a twelve-
month.

fir t:. GREY said be knew very little about the practice
of the vestries sod district boards, but he thought it would
be undesirable to change this existing practice, without cause
shown.

Sir .f. SHELLEY, speaking on behalf of the inhabitants
St. Geor*w's, Hiuioserisoare, said that the rector of the
parish, of whom he wished to speak with all possible respect,
less in the habit of taking the chair at the vestry meeting
ea a matter of custom from time immemorial. Speaking
with the most unfeigned respect, M thought it would be
better that the rectors of parishes should hencefoith be
relieved from there duties.

Colonel FRENCH said he saw no ground for the inn*•
ration, and he should oppose the clause.
Mr. ME opposed the clause.
The clauses were negatived without &division.
Sir J. SHELLEY niuved a clause empoweriug vestries to
borrow moneys for the improvement of streets.
The clause wipi agreed to and added to the bill.
Lord FERMOY moved the addition of a clause giving
power to vestry and dhitrict boards to contact for the re-
moval of moan from stables and cowhouses.

Mr. TITE and es the dna' was entirely permissive he
would not oppose it.
The elamse was then agreed to and added to the bill.
The house then resumed.
PETROLEUM BILL
This bill was read a third time and passed.
JURIES BILL
This bill wn also read a third time and passed.
STIPENDIARY MAGISTRATES BILL

Mr. SHERIDAN, in moving the seesicel reading of this
b3l, said he would move that it should go into committee
pro forint, with the view of waking in it cartaiu aiteratioaa.
Sir G. GREY said that under thews circumstances Le
would not oppose the second reading, but be had objections
to the bill as it stood.
The bill was then read a mooed time.
FISHERIES (IRELAND) BILL
Mr. MIS AMON moved that the house should go into
committee upon this
............ . _

Lord FEILIOY said that the measure affected property
in Ireland to the value of nearly 100,000,0041. a year, the
owners of which had not had an opportunity of being heard
before the select committee. He contended that the., was a
good case fur sending Lack the bLII to the same oommittee for
further inquiry, or submitting it to a new committee. The
mamma was a mere job, for the purpose of enriching a few
private owners of fisheries iu
lrelawL

After 0011.10 further discussion the bill wu postponed till
Friday next.

BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRATION (IREitAND)
RILL

Sir R. PEEL rid that, in consequence of the late period
of the session, end the difference of opinion which existed
as to the propriety of the du.ies under the hill being en-
truAti d to the constabulary or medical officers, it was
not tie intention of the government to proceed with the
tuesll.4l..

The hill was then by have withdrawn.
The Pier and Harbour Orders Confirmation Bill, as
*treaded, was coneidereal and screed to.
The Harbours Transfer Bill was read a third time and
paseed.
The Windsor Castle (Bakehouse) Bill was mad a second
time.

The Police Improvement (flootlandA and the Newspapers,
Ito., Bits were read third time in passed.
The loclosure (No. 2)&11 pained through committee.
The other business on the paper having been disposed of,
the house adjourned at a quarter to 8 o'clock.

In the division at the ballot Mr. Brocklebunt and Mr.
Greaten were accidentally shut out from voting in favour of
theyueasure.

31r. W E. Forster paired for the ballot with Kr. Wright-
mos against.

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