As a matter of chronological order, would it not be better if we took Senator Blythe's motion which is on the Order Paper? If there is any difficulty about Senator Blythe's amendments to the Bill being in order, would it not be better to take that motion, and deal with it so that the matter of the order of the amendments would be settled?
Private Business. - Galway Harbour Bill, 1933—Report Stage.
I do not think so, Senator. We must face up to the amendments, and deal with them in the ordinary way.
If you took the motion first, it would be possible to put them in order.
We will take the Bill.
Agreed to take the Report Stage of the Bill.
There are certain amendments standing in the name of Senator Blythe and there is an amendment by the Government, which is clearly in order. The amendments of Senator Blythe I must rule out of order on the ground that they are outside the scope of the Bill as read a second time.
I move amendment No. 4:—
Section 57. To delete the section and to substitute the following new section therefor:—
(1) The Minister may by order appoint a fit and proper person (in this Act referred to as the auditor) to examine and audit the accounts of the Board and may by such order fix the amount of the payments to be made by the Board by way of salary and expenses (if any) to the auditor.
(2) The amount of the payments so fixed as aforesaid shall be paid by the Board to the auditor out of the harbour revenue as part of the expense of the maintenance of the harbour.
(3) The Minister may by order remove the auditor from office and shall by the same or any subsequent order, unless the appointment of an auditor appears to him for any special reason to be unnecessary, appoint a fit and proper person to be the auditor in lieu and stead of the auditor so removed.
This amendment is designed to ensure that the conditions of auditing are in conformity with what is already in existence in respect of all local harbour authorities. It is in the terms contemplated for such new harbour regulations and legislation as will likely be brought in as a result of the report of the Harbours Tribunal. I think it is self-explanatory and the wisdom of it will be obvious to everyone in the House.
I second.
Amendment agreed to.
Question—"That the Bill be received for final consideration"—put and agreed to.