The Sun.
London, England, 1840-03-06 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS 11'14ztca 5.

The SPEAKER took the Chair at Five o'clock.
A Messenger from the Treasury brought up certain
quarterly returns.
NOTTINGHAM GAS BILL.

CoIoneIROLLESTON presented five petitions, one
of 'it hich was signed by 2,000 inhabitants of Notting-
ham and its vicinity, in favour of the Nottingham
Gas Bill.
Sir JOHN C. HOBHOUSE presented a petition
signed by 2,000 inhabitants of Nottingham and its vici-
nity against the Bill.—(A laugh.)
Mr. T. DUNCOMBE, in the absence of his Hon.
and Gallant Friend, the Member for Nottingham (Sir
R. C. Ferguson), presented a petition also against the
Bill. . •

On the question that the Bill be read a second time,
Sir J. 1-10 BH 0 USE was sorry to be obliged to op-
pose the motion of the Gallant Colonel (Rolleston) for
the second reading, because it must appear, as a general
principle, to the advantage of the public that there
should be two sources of supply of any commodity, instead
of one. It must appear at first sight that the competition
would necessarily reduce the price of the article. But
in the present case the competition would have most
certainly a contrary effect. The Company which now
supplied the town with gas exacted very small profits.
They lighted the tawn clock at an expense to themselves
of 501. a-year, without any charge, and they lighted the
streets at the charge only of the cost, without any pro-
fits whatever.—( Hear, hear, hear.) If this Bill were
passed, the streets which had been but recently new
paved must be broken up, which would cause
not only a great inconvenience to the inhabitants,
but nn expense, for which of course the town must pay
the new company, in the price of the article. The
works of the existing company were sufficient for the
supply of the town and the county of the town (as it
was called), and if their consumption was to be dimin-
ished by the competition of another company, they
must increase their charges. He moved, as an amend-
ment, that the Bill be read a second t;me that day six
months.

Colonel ROLLESTON contended that as there
were conflicting opinions amongst the inhabitants of
the town as to the necessity for a new company,
the Bill ought to go to a Committee, where the
contradictory allegations might be weighed.
Twenty years ago the town of Nottingham was a very
different place to what it is sow. Manufactures had
greatly increased in that place since mills and factories
had been erected, and the population has greatly in-
creased, and under these circumstances the House would
see that it would be a great accommodation to the in-
habitants if the town were lighted with gas. The Right
Hon. Baronet had not said one word against the prin-
ciple of the Bill, and he hoped the House would agree
to its being read a second time.

Mr. G:KNIGHT supported the second reading of
the Bill, as he was desirous that it should go into Com-
mittee. He was surprised at the opposition, consider-
ing the quarter from which it came. He thought the
Honourable Baronet, and those with whom he acted,
would have been the last persons to advo-
cate monopoly, and endeavour to keep the
people of Nottingham in darkness. He considered
that the House would see that the Company that at
present existed at Nottingham were wholly incapable of
sufficiently supplying the increasing town of Nottingham
with gas.
Mr. `.l7'. ATTWOOD thought, when the House con-
sidered the circumstances of the present case, it would
be of opinion that the supporters of that Bill had not
made out a sufficient case to justify the House in
adopting their proposition. Unless it could be shown
that the present Company had failed to accom-
plish the task they had undertaken. It would be
unfair on the part of the House to allow another com-
pany to be set up, just at the moment when the existing
company were beginning, from the increasing size of
Nottingham, to make their establishment profitable.
The Earl of LINCOLN said the statement made
by his Hon. Friend showed the necessity of not opposing
a Bill of that kind on the second reading. His Hon.
Friend was not locally acquainted with Nottingham—
he was instructed upon the matter, but he could assure
him and the House that he had made several misstate-
ments in the course of his speech. He admitted that
the present company had done all that they could do.
Their argument was, that the company were too
restricted, and they contended that they were un-
able to do all that was requisite ; they could not
supply all the parties who were in want of
gas, and he was informed that several large companies
were compelled to manufacture it for themselves. He
hoped the House would not refuse a second reading to
the Bill, but send it to a Committee, where the state-
ments of both parties would be heard and considered.
Strangers were then ordered to withdraw.
The House divided, when the numbers were—
For the second reading 5B
Against it 59
Majority against the second reading
The Bill is consequently lost.
Mr. BROADLEY presented a petition from Hen-
don, in Yorkshire, against the Inland Warehousing Bill.
On the motion of Sir G. STRICKLAND, the
Sheffield and Rotherara Railway Bill was read a third
time and passed.
On the motion of Captain PECHELL, the Brighton
Small Debts Bill was read a third time and passed.
The report of the Committee on the Dundalk
Harbour petition was brought up.
Mr. GIBSON CRAIG brought up the report of
the Committee on the Edinburgh Market and Petty
Customs' Bill, and moved certain amendments to the
Bill, which were agreed to.
Mr. BROTH E RTON brought up the report of the
Committee on Fier's Naturalization Bill, which was
read a third time and passed.
Mr. BAINES moved that the Committee on the
Crown-point (Leeds) Lands, Bridge, and Roads Bill be
revived, and have leave to sit and proceed on Friday, and
that three (including the selected Member) be the
quorum of the said Committee, the Bill being entirely
unopposed. Agreed to.
INHABITANTS OF LARGE TOWNS.

Mr. S L ANEY gave notice for Thursday of a motion
relative to the establishment of certain regulations re-
garding the health and recreation of the inhabitants of
large towns.