13

H.—6

85. A Committee on an opposed Bill shall not proceed to business unless and until each member of the Committee has signed the following declaration : — I do hereby declare that I have no interest either in promoting or in opposing the Bill; and that I will never vote on any question that may arise in the course of the proceedings of the Committee on the Bill without having duly heard and attended to the evidence (if any) relating to that question. 86. Except in case of sickness, or by special leave of the House, no Member of a Committee on an opposed Bill shall absent himself from any meeting of the Committee. 87. Any Member of a Committee on an opposed Bill who is not present within half an hour after the time appointed for any meeting of the Committee, or who absents himself from his duties on the Committee, shall be reported to the House at its next sitting. 88. A Committee on a Bill shall be allowed to proceed if three of the five Members be present, but not if a less number be present, except by special leave of the House. 89. All questions before a Committee on a Bill shall be decided by a majority of voices, including the voice of the Chairman ; and whenever the voices are equal the Chairman shall have a second or casting voice. 90. Except by special leave of the House, no Committee on a Bill shall have power to inquire into the correctness of the Examiner's report as to whether or not the promoters have complied with these Orders. 91. The Committee on an opposed Bill shall appoint the day whereon they will proceed to consider the Bill, and whereon they will require the parties respectively promoting and opposing the same to enter appearances; and, if necessary, shall from time to time appoint a day for further consideration of the Bill. At least two clear days' notice of every such appointment shall be given by the Examiner by writing affixed to the door of the Private Bill Office. 92. The parties respectively promoting and opposing a Bill may call witnesses to give evidence on their behalf before the Committee on the Bill; or the Chairman may, by direction of the Committee, summon as a witness any person whom the Committee may deem able to give necessary or material evidence. 93. Evidence of any facts necessary to be proved before the Committee on a Bill may be given by affidavit or declaration sworn or made before a Solicitor of the Supreme Court; provided that, in the case of an opposed Bill, the party tendering in evidence any such affidavit or declaration shall produce the deponent or declarant for cross-examination, if the opposite party require it. 94. In the case of an opposed Bill, any question of procedure arising in regard either to the addresses of the parties, their counsel or agents, or the taking or admission of evidence, shall be determined, as nearly as may be, in accordance with the practice and procedure of the Supreme Court in a Civil action. 95. Where a Bill is promoted by a company, shareholders of the company opposing the Bill shall not be entitled to be heard before the Committee on the Bill unless their interests, as affected by the Bill, be distinct from the interests of the company.

Declaration by Members of such Committee. S.O. of House of Commons, No. 118.

Members of such Committee to attend meetings. 5.0., So. 65.

Member not attending to be reported. Ibid., No. 87.

Quorum of a Committee. Ibid., No. 64.

I Questions to be T decided by > majority. 1 Ibid., No. 08. t

Limitation of powers of Committee. S.O. of House of Commons, No. 141.

Committee on opposed Bill to appoint a day for consideration thereof. 5.0., No. 69.

Witnesses may be called.

Evidence by affidavit. Ibid., No. 51.

Procedure in case of opposed Bill.

Shareholders have no locus ttandi as against company. S.O. of House of Commons, No. 131.