It says that the minute books of proceedings should be available for inspection each day. Is that unduly onerous on a private company? Would it be desirable to say " once a week during business hours " ? It says for two hours each day during business hours?
SECTION 146.
Question proposed : " That Section 146 stand part of the Bill."
It is the same form as other provisions in the Bill.
Does it require the keeping of two minute books?
Within the parenthesis, it says " subject to such reasonable restrictions ".
I see that.
But is it unreasonable to provide less than two hours per day? These are the sort of books the custody of which you do not want to give to any Tom, Dick or Harry in the company. If the secretary happens to be away on business for the day, it means that he must leave the books available in the custody of somebody else and even though they are general minute books, you may not conveniently have a lower official of the company than the secretary with whom you want to leave these records.
You have also to provide some supervision of the books during the time they are being inspected.
Leave the parenthesis to read " subject to such reasonable restrictions " without trying to go too far to define that. I know it is not a good principle in definition but in this case it would be better to leave it and not try to tie it in the way it is being tied.
I think there is something in that point and I will consider it.
Does " each day " include Sunday?
No, business days.
Question put and agreed to.
The Committee adjourned at 9.40 p.m. until 7.30 p.m. on Tuesday, 12th March, 1963.