diture is incurred under agreement with the Board" -(Sir Douglas Newton).

Question proposed, "That those words be there inserted."

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Other Amendments made, in page 4, line 1, by leaving out the words "Electricity Commissioners," and inserting the word "Board"—(Mr. Clayton),—instead thereof; in page 4, line 2, by leaving out the second word "to," and inserting the words "public notice of the date (not being less than one month from the date of the notice) by which,' instead thereof; in page 4, line 3, by leaving out the first word "to"; in page 4, line 3, by leaving out the words "who appear to the Commissioners to be "; and in page 4, line 4, by leaving out the words "an opportunity of making," and inserting the words " 'may make "-(Mr. Grant),-instead thereof.

Another Amendment proposed, in page 4, line 5, after the word "thereon," to insert the words "and if any representations are so made the Board shall hold an inquiry and give such authorised undertakers and other persons an opportunity of being heard on their representations "-(Colonel Sir Joseph Nall).-Question proposed, "That those words be there inserted."

Amendment made to the proposed Amendment, in line 2, by leaving out the words "hold an inquiry and" -(Mr. Looker).

Question, "That the proposed words, as amended, be there inserted,”—put, and negatived.

Another Amendment proposed, in page 4, line 5, to leave out all the words from the word "thereon" to the end of the sub-section, in order to insert the words "to the Board"-(Mr. Balfour),-instead thereof.-Question proposed, "That the words and the stand part of the Clanse."

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Other Amendments made, in page 4, line 5, by leaving out the word "Commissioners," and inserting the word

"Board," instead thereof; and in page 4, line 6, after the word "representations," by inserting the words "and after holding such inquiries (if any) as they think fit”—(Mr. Attorney-General).

Another Amendment proposed, in page 4, line 6, after the word "6 may," to insert the words "subject to the consent of the Minister of Transport"-(Mr. Gosling).Question, "That those words be there inserted,”-put, and negatived.

Other Amendments made, in page 4, line 7, by leaving out the word "confirm," and inserting the word "adopt,' instead thereof; in page 4, line 9, after the word "areas," by inserting the words "and shall publish the scheme as so adopted by them; and in page 4, line 10 and line 11, by leaving out the word "confirmed," and inserting the word "adopted "(Mr Robert Hudson),--instead thereof.

Another Amendment proposed, in page 4, line 12, at the end, to insert the words:

"Provided that any authorised undertakers may appeal to the Railway and Canal Commission against any decision of the Board to confirm a scheme "-. (Sir Douglas Newton).

Question proposed, "That those words be there inserted."

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Another Amendment proposed, in page 4, line 12, at the end, to insert the words :

Any local authority, company, body, or person dissatisfied with any provision contained in any scheme as confirmed or adopted by the Board may appeal against the scheme to the tribunal of appeal constituted by this Act, and the tribunal after giving such local authority, company, body, or person an opportunity of being heard may confirm the scheme without modification or subject to such modifications as the tribunal may think fit"-(Colonel Sir Joseph Nall).

Question proposed, "That those words be there in

serted."

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Another Amendment proposed, in page 4, line 13, to leave out sub-section (3), in order to insert the words:

66

(3) There shall be nominated by the Lord Chancellor an appeal tribunal consisting of a barrister of not less than ten years' standing as chairman, and two assessors, with the powers and duties hereinafter defined.

(4) As soon as the scheme is confirmed by the Board, or is confirmed as respects any area, it shall be open to any authorised undertaker, power company, or other person affected by the scheme and conceiving himself to be aggrieved thereby to appeal against any provision of the scheme, provided that no appeal shall lie

(a) if the relief claimed would, in the opinion of the Electricity Board, be inconsistent with any of the fundamental principles of the scheme or interfere with the efficient carrying out of the policy upon which the scheme is based without prejudice in such case to the power of the tribunal to award to the applicant such pecuniary compensation as may seem just ;

(b) if in the opinion of the tribunal the claim is frivolous, or if the damage or injury apprehended by the applicant is merely indirect:

5) Provided that after appeals have been heard by the tribunal and the Board shall have made such alterations in the scheme as the appeal tribunal may direct, it shall be the duty of the Board to carry out and give effect to the scheme, or to carry out and give effect to the scheme within the area, as the case may be "(Mr. Clarry),-instead thereof.

Question proposed, "That the words proposed to be left out to the word "confirmed," in line 13, stand part of the Clause."

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Another Amendinent made, in page 4, line 13, by leaving out all the words from the word "is" to the word "as," in line 14, and inserting the words "so adopted and published either generally or "-(Mr. Robert Hudson),-instead thereof.

Another Amendment proposed, in page 4, line 15, to leave out the words "to carry out and give," in order to insert the words "to provide for the carrying out and giving effect"-(Mr. Clayton),-instead thereof.-Question, "That the words proposed to be left out stand part of the Clause,"―put, and agreed to.

[Adjourned till Monday next, at 4 o'clock.

Monday, 14th June, 1926.

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Sir ROBERT SANDERS in the Chair.

MEMBERS PRESENT―(continued):

Colonel Sir Joseph Nall

Sir Douglas Newton

Mr. Nuttall

Mr. Rentoul

Mr. Sandeman

Mr. Spoor

Mr. Townend

Mr. Viant

Mr. Wallhead

Lt.-Colonel Lambert Ward
Brigadier-General Warner
Captain Waterhouse
Sir Charles Wilson
Mr. Womersley

ELECTRICITY (SUPPLY) BILL.

Clause 4, further considered.

Another Amendment proposed, in page 4, line 17, at the end, to insert the words:

5

"Provided that if any authorised undertakers on whom obligations are imposed by the scheme consider that the carrying out of those obligations would be prejudicial to them, they may, within one month after the publication of the scheme as adopted, by notice in writing, specifying the nature of the complaint and of the relief sought by them, require the Board to refer the matter complained of to the arbitration of a barrister (or in Scotland an advocate) of not less than 10 ten years' standing appointed by the Minister of Transport, and the Board shall refer the matter accordingly, unless they amend the scheme by relieving the complainants of such obligations as aforesaid, and shall not, pending the determination of the 15 complaint, carry the scheme into effect so far as it affects the complainants.

(4) The arbitrator to whom any such matter is so referred may, if satisfied as to the justice of the complaint, either order such pecuniary compensation 20 to be made to the complainants as seems equitable in all the circumstances or order the scheme to be amended in such manner as he may direct :