Provisions as to houses of the working classes S. O. 184. XXVII. provisional order, under the Acts for the inclosure and Chapter In every bill by which power is sought to take land in Turnpikeroads (Ire The committee on a turnpike-road bill relating to Ireland are to insert a clause providing for the qualification of S. O. 186. commissioners. land). Compen sation water. In the case of a bill for impounding the water of any river or stream, the committee are to inquire into the S. O. 185. expediency of providing that the water to be supplied in compensation should be given in a continuous flow throughout the twenty-four hours of the day, and to report accordingly. Limits of burialground, &c., to be defined. In every bill for making gasworks or sewage-works, or for making, altering, or enlarging any sewage farm, cemetery, gasworks, burial-ground, crematorium, destructor, or hospital for infectious diseases, there is to be a clause defining the lands S. O. 187. in or upon which the same are to be made or constructed. In the case of a bill authorizing the generation, supply, relating to generation or use of electricity, standing order No. 187 provides that there shall be inserted either a clause defining the lands in S. O. 187. or upon which any generating station may be constructed, This expression is fully defined in standing order No, 38. Bills of elec tricity. XXVII. or a clause to the effect that the undertakers shall not be In the case of any bill relating to the generation of electricity for S. O. 1574. 3 gas and companies clauses,and In every bill in which an existing gas or water company Bills relating to is authorized to raise additional capital, provision is to be att made for the offer of such capital by auction or tender,2 water unless the committee report that such provision ought not (auction to be required, with their reasons; 3 and it is competent to standard the committee so to regulate the price of gas, that any price for gas). reduction of the authorized standard price shall entitle the S. O. 188. company to make a proportionate increase of dividend, and that any increase above the standard price shall involve a proportionate decrease of dividend.4 1 Up to 1899 practically all applications for powers to supply electricity were made by means of provisional orders granted by the board of trade under the Electric Lighting Acts, 1882 and 1888 (infra p. 875). The increasing need for generating electricity for motive power and other purposes, and over large areas, however, led to a great increase in the number of applications by means of private bill instead of by the procedure under these Acts, and, in 1901 and 1903, the provisions quoted above were inserted in the standing orders (156 C. J. 413; 158 ib. 369). 2 In gas companies' bills, the "model" clause for raising additional capital includes, under the nominal capital so created, "any premium which may be obtained on the sale thereof." 3 Bognor Water, 1891. Additional Estimates in local (England XXVII In the case of bills authorizing a local authority in Chapter authorities' England or Wales to borrow money for any matter within bills the jurisdiction of the board of trade or local government board, estimates of the proposed application of the money are (except so far as the borrowing power is to be exercised subject to the sanction of the board) to be recited in the bill, and to be proved before the committee. and Bills relating to local govern Whenever application is made by an urban district council, or town or other commissioners in Ireland for new ment (Ire- powers, the promoters are required to obtain a certificate, land). under the seal of the local government board in Ireland, S. O. 173. stating whether such application is made with the sanction and approval of the board, and this certificate is to be reported upon by the committee. Bills pro moted by authorities. S. 0.173A. In any bill promoted by, or conferring powers on, a local local authority, or public body having powers of local government or rating, the period which the committee may sanction for the repayment of any loan is expressly limited by standing order No. 173A to a term not exceeding sixty years;1 in considering any provisions in the bill as to borrowing powers and powers relating to police, sanitary and certain other matters, the committee must have regard to the provisions as to such powers in existing general Acts; and they must report specially upon these and other points specified in the standing order. capital by doubling its nominal 1 A period exceeding sixty years action was contrary to standing XXVII. 2 on bills Police and Chapter As already mentioned (p. 751-2) a select committee is Committee annually appointed by the house for the consideration of containing all those bills, whether opposed or unopposed, in which a Sanitary local authority seeks for "powers relating to Police or provisions. Sanitary regulations in conflict with, deviation from, or excess of, the provisions of the general law." The order of reference to this committee has varied in form in different sessions. Under its terms as passed in 1904, and subsequently, the number of the committee may not exceed eleven members (who are nominated by the committee of selection), four being the quorum. Should the committee be of opinion that it is not necessary or advisable for them to deal with any clauses (other than those containing police and sanitary regulations) in any bill referred to them, they may inform the committee of selection, who must then refer the bill to another committee in respect of those portions of it with which the Police and Sanitary committee do not deal. If any loan is authorized under those portions, however, the police and sanitary committee determine the mode of its repayment, and it is they who finally report the whole bill to the house, stating in their report what parts have been considered by each committee.9 The Police and Sanitary committee are also empowered, if they think fit, to sit In 1893 the Stalybridge and Dukinfield Sewerage Bill, although it contained no "police or sanitary clauses, was added (by the committee of selection) to the bills referred, under the order of the House, to the police and sanitary committee, it being thought desirable that the bill should be considered by this committee in conjunction with one of the bills already before them. Private Business, 1893 (April 28), p. 373. The same course was followed in the case of the Trafford Park Bill, 1904. Private Business, 1904 (July 19), p. 749. 2159 C. J. 48; 160 ib. 42; &c. Standing order No 173A, just mentioned, and standing order No. 150, mentioned on p. 791, are speci fically made applicable to all bills General proceed ings of XXVII as two committees, between whom they may apportion Chapter Having adverted to the various matters which are Committee room: when open and when cleared. Parties appear When counsel are addressing the committee, or while witnesses are under examination, the committee-room is an open court: but when the committee are about to deliberate, all the counsel, agents, witnesses, and strangers are ordered to withdraw, and the committee sit with closed doors. When they have decided any question, the doors are again. opened, and the chairman acquaints the parties with the determination of the committee, if it concerns them. The first proceeding of a committee on an opposed bill, before the when duly constituted, is to call in all the parties. The committee. counsel in support of the bill appear before the committee. Appear ances upon The petitions against the bill in which the petitioners pray If parties have neglected to enter their appearance at 1 159 C. J. 48; 160 ib. 42; &c. And cf. report from the police and sanitary committee H. C. Paper. No. 314) of 1904. 2 As to committees on Estate and Divorce bills see standing order 188A-192, and infra, Chapter XXIX. Until cases of locus standi were heard by the court of referees (see * See supra, pp. 710 (paragraph 8) Suppl. to Votes, 1849, pp. 204. 288; and ib. 1853, p. 829. Minutes C |