Page:Item 10 1862.pdf/146

From Historical Hastings
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first part of the report be adopted. Coun. Picknell thought they should first get the opinion of the Secretary of State. - Coun. Gausden did not think there was any necessity for that. He should make the same challenge as he did at the Committee meeting, and if it could be shown that the Barrister gave his decisions upon the burgess list alone, he would admit that they had no case; but if he did not take that list as a guide, then in his opinion they had a case. The Act of Parliament under which the application was made was the Municipal Corporation Act 1859; and, referring to the 3rd clause of that Act, which gives power to set out boundaries of wards, he explained that by that clause the provisions of sections 39, 40 & 42, and so much of section 43 as remained un-repealed of the Act (illegible text) Wm IV, cap. 76 shall extend to any such division of a borough into wards, or to any such alteration of the number and boundaries of wards into which any borough is or may be from time to time divided. Mr. Gausden next referred to the Act 5 and 6 Wm IV, and quoted the 40th section, by which it is enacted that the Barrister, in assigning the number of Councillors to each ward "shall as far as in his judgement he may deem it to be practicable, have regard as well to the number of wards, &c., as well as to the aggregate amount of the sums at which all the parishes whall be rated provided always that the number of councillors assigned to each ward shall be divisible by three. The Barrister, therefore, had positive instruction and he, Mr. Gausden, took it that it was the rateable value and the number of persons assessed which were to be considered. The Act said nothing about burgesses. Mr. Gausden then went fully into statistics and argued for his amendment at great length for the making of a central ward. After some few questions and answers by Messrs. Bromley, Howell and Ginner. Mr Gausden resumed - He would really ask the Council to consider seriously before they objected to his amendment; for, without wishing to make any threat, he must say that he believed if they rejected it the inhabitants of the west ward would be bound to have a public meeting, and apply for an Act of Parliament; and although they would be put to considerable expense, he had no doubt that they would be able to lay such a case before Parliament as would lead to their obtaining their request. They could not suppose that the west was to be put down. They had their ire raised on one or two occasions, and had shown what they were made of; and, if necessary, would do so again. From time to time, whenever East and West questions arose, they had full proof that the 12 East ward Councillors voted for whom they pleased. They appointed their own aldermen, and whenever for whom they pleased. They appointed their own aldermen, and whenever East and West ward questions were introduced; they always voted in favour of the East. - Alderman Rock believed in the general truth of Mr. Gausdens observations and in the desirability of a re-arrangement of the borough for municipal purposes, but he did not think the time had -