Jones, Wm. (Carnarvonshire) MacDonnell, Dr. Mark A. M'Killop, W. (Sligo, North) Nolan, Joseph (Louth, South) O'Brien, Kendal (Tipperary,M | O'Kelly, Conor (Mayo N.) Redmond, John E. (Waterford Russell, T. W. Thomas, David Alfred(Merthyr White, Patrick (Meath, North) TELLERS POR THE NOES- of getting the Rules through on Thursday That no Motion for the adjournment of the House shall be made until all the Questions asked at the commencement of business at the afternoon sitting have been disposed the right hon. Gentleman was well of, and no such Motion shall be made before advised when he refused the offer which the Orders of the Day or Notices of Motion have been entered upon, except by leave of the was made in a friendly and conciliatory House, unless a Member rising in his place spirit about one o'clock. Experience at an afternoon sitting shall propose to move had shown that the vigorous use of the the Adjournment for the purpose of discussing a definite matter of urgent public importance, closure did not tend to the making of and not less than forty Members shall there- progress. upon rise in their places to support the Motion; or unless, if fewer than forty Members and not less than ten shall thereupon rise in their places, the House shall, on a division, upon Question put forthwith, determine whether such Motion shall be made. If the Motion is so supported, or the House so determines that it shall be made, it shall stand over until the evening sitting of the same day. (5.30.) Motion made, and Question proposed, "That this House do now adjourn.”—(Mr. A. J. Balfour.) MR. DILLON said they were entitled to complain of the treatment the House had received from the First Lord of the Treasury. The course followed by the right hon. Gentleman had resulted in a gross waste of public time. That had been the universal experience of all Ministers who had embarked in enterprises of this character. He felt absolutely confident that the right hon. Gentleman had not increased his chances MR. BRYCE said he desired to express the sense which obtained on that side of the House of the very unusual and extremely unfortunate course taken by the Government. It was a course which the Opposition endeavoured to dissuade them. from, and one which would redound neither to the credit of the proceedings of the House nor to the excellence of the Rules on which they had been at so untimely an hour engaged. When the Question "That the House do now adjourn" was again put from the Chair, there were loud and repeated cries of "No!" from the Nationalist Benches; Speech indicates revision Aa Asterisk (*) at the commencement of a As amended, considered; Amendments made; Bill to be read the third time. LONDON GOVERNMENT SCHEME Bill to confirm a scheme made under the London Government Act, 1899, relating to the Metropolitan Borough of Southwark, ordered to be brought in by Mr. Wodehouse and Mr. Grant Lawson. LONDON GOVERNMENT SCHEME "To confirm a scheme made under the London Government Act, 1899, relating to the Metropolitan Borough of Southwark," presented accordingly, and read the first time; to be referred to the Examiners of Petitions for Private Bills, and to be printed. [Bill 180.] PETITIONS. BURGH POLICE AND PUBLIC HEALTH (SCOTLAND) BILL. Petition from Renfrew, for alteration; to lie upon the Table. lie lie PLUMBERS' REGISTRATION BILL. Petition from Taunton, in favour; to upon the Table. PUBLIC HOUSES (HOURS OF CLOSING) afterwards return in custody to Park(SCOTLAND) ACT (1887) AMEND- hurst Prison [by Act]; to lie upon the MENT BILL. Petition from Renfrew, in favour; to lie upon the Table. SALE OF INTOXICATING LIQUORS ON SUNDAY BILL. Table. METROPOLITAN POLICE. Accounts presented, of the Metropolitan Police and the Police Pension Funds for the year ended 31st March, 1902 [by Act]; to lie upon the Table, and to be printed. [No. 168.] TEACHERS' PENSION FUND (IRELAND). Thomas Return presented, relative thereto [ordered 22nd April; Mr. O'Donnell]; to lie upon the Table. Petitions in favour: From Middlesbrough (four); Grangetown; Blaydon; Sheffield (five); Pye Bank; Irthlingborough; Burtle; Earlestown; Bramley (two); Leeds (five); New Wortley; Wortley; Nelson; Failsworth; Brentwood; Doddington; Basford; Blaydon (two); Gosberton; Goole; Hunslet; Lyminge; Middlesex; Broadley; Okehampton; Clun; Hornsey; Cleveland; Gleadless; St. Luke's; Folkestone; Copy presented, of Returns of Accidents Elland; Yatton; Conisbrough; Camber and Casualties as reported to the Board well; Manchester; Kilmalcolm; Burn Cross; Congresbury (three); Great Bridge; Stockport; Sunderland; Exmouth (three); and Lees; to lie upon the Table. SHOPS (EARLY CLOSING). RAILWAY ACCIDENTS. of Trade by the several Railway Companies in the United Kingdom during the year ended 31st December, 1901, together with Reports of the Inspecting Officers of the Railway Department to the Board of Trade upon certain Accidents which were inquired into [by Command]; Petition from Fort William, for legisla- to lie upon the Table. tion; to lie upon the Table. RETURNS, REPORTS, ETC. WELLINGTON COLLEGE. Copy presented, of Report of the NEW WRIT. New Writ for the Borough of Bury, in the room of James Kenyon, Esq. (Manor of Northstead).-(Sir William Walrond.) Governors of Wellington College for the RURAL SMALL DWELLINGS (IRELAND) year ending 31st December, 1901, with Accounts by Command]; to lie upon the Table. HISTORICAL MANUSCRIPTS (ROYAL Copy presented, of Report on Manuscripts in the Welsh Language: Volume II., Part I., Jesus College, Oxford; Free Library, Cardiff; Havod; Wrexham; Llanwrin Merthyr; Aberdâr [by Command]; to lie upon the Table. PENAL SERVITUDE ACTS (CONDITIONAL LICENCE). Copy presented, of Licence granted to Frank Stephens, a convict under detention in Parkhurst Prison, permitting him to leave the prison on condition of his proceeding to King's College Hospital, there to remain for such time as is necessary to undergo treatment, and ACQUISITION BILL. [SECOND READING.] Order for Second Reading read. *(12.15.) MR. MACARTNEY (Antrim, S.) In moving the Second Reading of this Bill, I have to inform the House that it contains no new principle to which the assent of Parliament has not hitherto been given, nor, indeed, do the provisions or powers embodied in it present any new form of procedure which has not been authorised by Parliament and made applicable to Ireland. might, therefore, be asked-Where is the necessity for the Bill in its present form? I will shortly explain that to the House. Its provisions, in the main, are identical with the Act which was passed in 1899 to enable occupiers of small houses to acquire the ownership of those houses. The Act was drafted, in the It their authority to see what are the advantages which he can hope to obtain, and what is the method and machinery. which he has to attempt to make use of. The second difference is that this Bill in main, for England; but it was applied to is that hardly anybody representing the Scotland and to Ireland by special class on whom Parliament desired to clauses, which, so far as Scotland and confer the benefits of the Act of 1899 is Ireland are concerned, brought the Bill aware that such an Act exists or indeed into operation by substituting certain applies to Ireland; and it is for the authorities and modifying certain powers. purpose of bringing within the reach of With regard to Ireland, the modifications that class of the population the benefits introduced by the empowering clause are which that Act is designed to confer upon no less than fourteen in number. In this them, that I ask the House to assent to class of legislation experience proves that this Bill, which will place shortly and if it is desired to amend the main Act it clearly before the rural sanitary authoriis almost impossible, where the Act ties what are the powers which they can has been applied in this way to one exercise, and which will enable any ocparticular country, to do so in an in-cupier of a house within the area of telligible, clear, or concise manner. Those who desire to take advantage of the amending Act which receives the sanction of Parliament, or those who have to put it into operation, have to go through the process of consulting various Acts of Parliament-a process which is neither salutary to the object which Parliament desires to bring into operation, or, indeed, to those who desire to take advantage of the legislation which has been assented to by Parliament. I have, therefore, for the purpose of amending the Act of 1899 as regards rural sanitary districts in Ireland, introduced this Bill, most of the provisions of which have already been assented to by Parliament, while the others are modifications to which the House will, I trust, have no difficulty in giving its assent. My object in doing so is to bring, as concisely and as shortly and as clearly as possible, before those who are interested in obtaining the benefit of this legislation, and before those who are empowered to carry it out, the machinery which Parliament. has provided and the benefits which Parliament desires to confer upon them. In the first place, the Bill differs from the Act of 1899 in that it only applies to rural sanitary authorities in Ireland. I have confined myself to the case of the rural districts because I understand that the Act of 1899 has already been put in force in some two or three instances in urban districts in Ireland. I myself have no personal experience of how it has worked, but I do not wish to complicate this particular measure with any alteration or Amendment of the machinery which operates in urban districts. But so far as rural districts in Ireland are concerned my experience no way includes the County Councils in Ireland. Under the Act of 1899 they were one of the local authorities who were be very applicable to England as well as to put the measure in force. That may to Scotland, but the County Councils in Ireland are not the authority for bringing into operation machinery of this class. So far as the Labourers' Acts are concerned the County Councils have absolutely nothing to do. The authority the local sanitary authority, i.e., the District Council, and it seems to me that for the purposes of the main Act of 1899 this Bill had better be confined which deals with them in Ireland is the to those who are accustomed to deal with this matter in relation to the labouring population and the machinery of the Labourers' Acts. I have, therefore, omitted all reference in this measure to the County Councils. Another minor difference is that the total amount which I propose shall be advanced by the District Council is reduced in this Bill by £40. Hon. Members acquainted with Ireland will agree that £200, the total amount which may be advanced is amply sufficient in ninty-nine times out of a hundred to cover all the cases that may come under the operation of the Bill. The Local Government Board is constituted the authority for determining the conditions, rate of interest, and the period at which instalments of the loan shall be repaid to the District Council. That is a slight difference from the Act of 1899, but I think it will be more elastic, and will tend to easier administra- other statutory conditions. It does not tion if the Local Government Board in seem to me desirable to make that Ireland is left to settle, as I presume it distinction. Those who are acquainted will be, in consultation with the various with the feeling in Ireland, and especially District Councils the rate of interest, the in the north-and I daresay the same period at which different instalments feeling exists in many other portions ought to be paid, and, what is more, the of Ireland are well aware of the relucvarious conditions of the repayment of tance which the local sanitary authorities the advance which will make it easiest have in applying the machinery which for the District Council to carry out and Parliament has invested in them in administer the Bill. I propose also to carrying out many of the conditions substitute Sub-section B, Clause 2 in of the Public Health Act, which involves the Bill, for the provisions in the main any increase on the rates or any burden Act which apply to the conditions as on the ratepayer. I am extremely to which the local authorities in anxious, as I suppose every hon. Member England have to satisfy themselves, who represents Ireland is, to see the viz., as to the value of the owner- benefits of this special class of legislation ship, the title, the sanitary condi- taken advantage of as largely as possible tions, and the state of repair of the by the humbler members of the rural house on which it is proposed to make community, where, of course, it can the advance. It is quite easy to imagine be safely done and without imprudence, a case in which the local authority at the expense of the ratepayers. Theremight satisfy itself in relation to all fore I am disposed to think that those special points which are specified District Councils will be more inclined in the Act of 1899, and yet in which to embark upon the extension and the house upon which it is proposed to benefits conferred by the Act of 1899, make the advance is not altogether if they feel that there is not the opening a desirable acquisition, or one which it would advisable in the interest of the ratepayer to make an advance upon, I have, therefore, substituted for the various conditions specified in the main Act the following provision- "That the advance, having regard to all the circumstances of the case, is one which an ordinary mortgagee would be willing to make." I think this provision will amply cover the interests of the ratepayers, and will be sufficient to enable the District Council to come to a conclusion as to whether or not the application for an advance is one which ought to be admitted to the benefits of the Bill. I have further modified the procedure which is afforded in that Act for a distinction between breaches of the statutory conditions. I have said I cannot see why a person to whom an advance has been given under the Bill should be treated in a different manner because he has committed a breach of one statutory condition to that in which he would be treated for the breach of another statutory condition. If he fails to keep the house in repair and to keep up the insurance, it seems to me that the local authority should have the same powers given to it in dealing with him as though he had failed in the punctual payment of the instalment or in the condition that he alone shall occupy the house. in relation to the occasion when default is made in compliance with the statutory I have slightly altered the powers conditions. I propose to abolish the conferred upon the local authorities distinction which exists in the main Act where possession has been obtained, and between a breach of the statutory I wish to draw the attention of the conditions of residence and the statutory House to a somewhat important modicondition for payment and other fication of the Act now on the Statutestatutory conditions. The Act of 1899 | book, viz., the provision as to how and confers upon the local authority, in reference to any breach by the proprietor of the statutory conditions say in regard to residence or unpunctuality in payment of instalments-more stringent powers than it does with respect to some Mr. Macartney where the local authority has taken possession of a house, and, where it has. under the Act, to pay the proprietor a certain sum which is to be agreed upon, the value of his interest in the house is to be determined. Under the Act of |