The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-04-08 00:00:00

LEASES

The DEPUTY TOWN-CLERK read a list of the leases which
hoed been granted within the past month, and on the motion
of Mr. G. H. LAWRENCE they were confirmed.

IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE PROCEEDINGS

The DEPUTY TOWN-CLERIC read the proceedings, resolu-
tions, and reports of the Improvement Committee.
Mr. Alderman BARCLAY proposed, and Mr. H. HoLmEs
seconded, a motion for their confirmation.

Mr. LLOYD, in allusion to a portion of the report con-
taining resolutions touching the improvement bill, said he had
formerly made some observations on tnc clauses in the bill
empowering the council to appropriate property for improve-
ment. He objected to this power being given, because at the
very moment, perhaps, when a person had made a purchase
of property which he intended to use for business purposes.
this clause, which he had never dreamt of, might, without no-
tice, be brought into operation ; the corporation might dis-
cover that such property was in the line of an intended im-
provement, and he might be compelled to give it up. They
might only require a portion of such property, and might
leave an useless remainder on the hands of the proprietor.
They ought to be bound to take all the property if they took
any. In cases of new improvement bills which affected the
rights of possessors of property, the latter had ample notice,
beccause they were defined by the schedule, but by this bill
they might. be taken without any notice whatever. He would
move that the matter be referred to the committee back again
for consideration.

Mr. JAMES LAWRENCE objected to the clauses in ques-
tion, because he thought they might be made instruments of
injustice. He thought it was dangerous to place such power
in the hands of the council. He seconded the motion.
Mr. EVANS objected to all observations tending to imply
that injustice was more likely to govern the future acts of the
council than justice. He had every confidence in the council
of the present day, as well as in those which were to come,
and he would recommend that in all cases they should legis-
late boldly, and with the utmost confidence that all their suc-
cessors would act justly. '

Mr. B.Ancutv said the subject had had full consideration in
the committee, and they came to the conclusion that it was
advisable to go for the clauses.
Mr. EARLE would be very sorry to see those clauses obli-
terated. He was confident that no injustice would be done,
and the clauses would prevent the repetition of great injustice
to the corporation, which had had to pay large sums of the
public money unjustly.
Mr. BIRKETT said Mr. Lloyd had alluded to the opposition
which these changes would probably occasion. It was better
to settle the matter here, and not to run the risk of opposition
hereafter.

The TOWN-CLERK explained that the clauses applied only
to houses which had been burned or pulled down, or which
were intended to be re-built, and which were, at the same
time, in the line of a projected improvement. All these
matters were necessary before the clauses could come into
operation, and on the occasion of any dispute or difference
reference must be made to a jury.
hf r. BUSHELL said the Town-clerk's explanation was per-
fectly satisfactory.
The TOWN-CLERK said Lord Shaftesbury, who was the
great authority on matters of this nature, had expressed his
approval of the clause.
Mr. Lloyd's proposition was taken as an amendment on
the motion that the proceedings of the committee be con-
firmed.
The council divided on the amendment, when there appeared
For the amendment 9
Against it 35
The amendment was consequently lost.
The following, members voted on the division :
For the amendment—Messrs. Copeland, J. Lawrence,
Wood, Birkett, Procter, Lloyd, Parker, Bramley-Moore,
and Molyneux.

Againsi4lllVlessrs. Shaw. Shand, Houghton, Thornhill,
Preston, H. Holmes, Mellor, J. Holmes. Bolton, Bright,
Rae, Priestley, Aspinall, Yates, Robinson, Cooper, Bushell,
Gladstone, Rigby, Kilshaw, Brassey, J. Smith, G. H. Law-
rence, Jordan, Platt, Holt, Bulley, Freme, Evans, Barclay,
Earle, Nicol, Turner, and the Mayor.