Report of Proceedings of Tynwald Court
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REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS OF TYNWALD COURT Douglas, Tuesday, January l/th, 1961 Present: The Governor (Sir Ronald TRIBUTE TO MR GEORGE HIGGINS Garvey, K.C.M.G., K.C.V.O., M.B.E.). —FORMER MEMBER OF THE In the Council: Deemster S. J: Kneale. LEGISLATURE 0.B.E., Deemster B. W. Macpherson, the Attorney-General (Mr G. E. Moore), The Governor: Before proceeding Sir Ralph Stevenson, G.C.M.G,, Messrs with the business of the Court I must J. F. Crelin, 0.B.E., Kg., J. H Nicholls, mention the loss which the Isle of Man and E. B. C. Farrant, M.B.E., with has sustained by the death of Mr George Mr E. R. St. A. Davies, M.B.E., Govern- ' Higgins. Mr Higgins was a stalwart of ment Secretary and Clerk to the Coun- the commercial life of the Island and cil. In the Keys: The Acting-Speaker his native gifts and acumen were in- (Mr H. C. Kerruish), Messrs T. F. valuable to the many major Manx Corkhil, T. H. Colebourn, E. N. Crowe, companies of which he was a director. H. H. Radcliffe, Lt.-Cdr. J. L. Quine, - In spite of his numerous business Messrs J. C. Nivison, W. E. Quayle, interests, he gave freely of his time for H, S. Cain. A. H. Simcocks, C. C. McFee, the benefit of the community as T. A_ Coole, G. C. Gale, A. Cecil Teare, his membership of Noble's Hospital .1. Edward Callister, T. A. Corkish, Management committee and his appoint- R. C. Stephen, W. B. Kaneen, E. C. ment as vice-chairman of the Manx Irving and J. B. Bolton, with Mr F. B. Deaf Society bear witness. His parti- Johnson, M.A., Secretary to the House cular interest in music was evidenced of Keys and Clerk to Tynwald. by his work on the committee of the Manx Music Festival and, of course, he was also president 'of the Lan Dhoo APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND Male Voice Choir. Since he was elected to the House of Keys in 1946 as a REPORTS ON SICK MEMBERS member for Douglas South and, after- The Governor: Hon. members of the wards, when he served as a member of Court, apart from apologies from the the Legislative Council, from 1950 to Lord Bishop, who is indisposed, I have 1958 he was, I know, held in affection apologies from Mr A. J. Teare, Mr G. H. and respect by his colleagues. In fact, I Moore.. Mr J. M. Cain and Mr J. L. am sure that every member of the Court Ca'lister, who are also indisposed. The regarded him as a friend whose un- Speaker is. I am glad to say, fully failing good humour sprang from an recovered but his convalescent period inherently pleasant disposition. His is not quite complete but I think he will public service covered a wide range of be on duty, and I am sure you will activities—as Justice of the Peace from welcome it, at the next sitting of Tyn- 1940, as a member of the Education wald. I have good news of Mr Spencer Authority from 1928 until he became a Kelly and he tells me he is on the high member of the Board of Education when road to recovery and will be going home he was elected to the House of Keys, shortly and he expresses to you his and also as chairman of the Education grateful thanks for all the good wishes Authority for two sessions. The Court for his return to good health. • will, I know, wish to send their sym- Apologies for Absence and Reports on Sick Members.—Tribute to Mr George Higgins—Former Member of the Legislature. 664 TYNWALD COURT, JANUARY 17, 1961 pathy to Mr Higgin's family and join liminary draft of the Tynwald Proce- me in an acknowledgment in this Court dure Bill have been prepared. Whilst of a life which has been freely spent in the final form of these Bills is likely to the service of his fellow men. be affected by recommendations to be made by the Committee appointed to revise Standing Orders, I do not propose STATEMENT BY THE GOVERNOR ON that they should he held up on this PREPARATION OF BILLS account, though I should be grateful to The Governor: There are one of two receive the recommendations of this announcements I have to make, first of committee as soon as possible. Civil all with reference to the position with Service Bill: Within the last few days regard to the preparation of Bills for a reply has been received from the consideration in the branches of Tyn- Home Office to a letter sent in Novem- wald, including in particular the Bills ber last seeking advice as to the consequent upon the Report of the inclusion, or omission, of certain per- MacDermott Commission, has been ex- sons employed in National Health plained in a letter of the 13th December, Service and Education in this Bill. 1960, which I authorised the Attorney- Discussions are also taking place locally General to send to the Acting-Speaker on the inclusion or exclusion of certain of the House of Keys. I understood a other officers. I feel I must stress that copy of this letter has been supplied to the preparation of legislation is only members of both branches. Since that one part of the duties performed by the date some of the Bills included in the Attorney-General's Department and, vast figure of approximately eighty having regard to the great diversity of matters then under consideration for tasks performed by the Attorney- legislative action, have been passed in General_ and his Legal Assistant,. I am the branches, but additional matters satisfied it is not possible for them to requiring legislative action have arisen carry out the many duties of the office —some of which are matters of urgency and also to give the long, uninterrupted —so that the total number of matters time which is essential to prepare the for legislative decision still remains at many Bills at present requiring legisla- least eighty. Of these matters, some tive action, and that it is essential to thirty-six, including the Bills conse- belie the assistance of a legal drafts- quent under the Macnermott Commis- man, until the present backlog of legis- sion Report are the most urgent. With lation is dealt with. I am, therefore. regard to the MacDermott Bills the obtaining the services of a legal drafts- present position is —Police Bill: The man, on a temporary basis, to deal with third draft is completed and is at the this urgent work, for I am emphatic in Home Office for observations, The my . desire to see the implementation of Home Office have promised me to con- the MacDermott Report during the life sider this Bill and send their observa- of the present Legislature. It is a task tions as a .matter of urgency. Civil which it has begun during its lifetime Defence Bill: This Bill has been printed and which it should complete before its and is ready for consideration by the dissolution towards the end of this branches. Home Office observations year, have been received. Finance Board Bill. Observations on this Bill have now been received from the Home UNITED KINGDOM CONTRIBUTION Office. They are very comprehensive —STATEMENT AGREED TO BY and are now being considered. Isle of HOME OFFICE Man Constitution Bill arid Tynwald Pro- cedure Bil,1: Separate Bills are required The Governor: Following on consulta- to deal with these subjects. A second tions with the Legislative Council and draft of the Constitution Bill and a pre- the House of Keys Consultative and Statement by the Governor on Preparation Of Bills.— United Kingdom Contribution—Statement Agreed to by Home Office. TYNWALD COURT, JANUARY 17. 1961 665' Finance Committee, I have been Chief Financial Officer and here again authorised by the Home Secretary to there are candidates offering with good make the following statement with qualifications. reference to the Isle of Man contribu- tion to United Kingdom funds: After full consideration of all the factors involved, H.M. Government,. on resolu- PAPERS LAID BEFORE THE COURT tion of Tynwald, would be prepared to agree to the continuation of the existing The Governor: I have the honour to contribution at the rate of 5 per cent. lay before the Court:— of the net Common Purse receipts for Payment of Members' Expenses Act, the ensuing five years. H.M. Govern- 1957, Order, 1960. ment are also prepared to regard the rate of 5 per cent, of the net Common Motor Vehicles (Registration and Licen- Purse receipts as the normal rate which sing) Amendment Regulations, would only be varied if it could be 1960. shown by either parties to the agree- Order made bY the Isle of Man Local ment that some significant change in the Government Board constituting relevant circumstances had taken place Dalby Village, Patrick, Drainage which would warrant any variation, In District, the light of this statement I propose to Aliens (Amendment) Regulations, 1960. introduce an appropriate resolution, for the consideration of Tynwald at its next National Health Service (Isle of Man) meeting. (Appointment of Specialists) Regu- lations, 1960. Inheritance (Family Provision) Act, 1959 (Appointed Day) Order. 1961. RADIO MANX—STATEMENT BY (Government Circular No. 1/61), HIS EXCELLENCY Administration of Estates Act, 1960 The Governor: In order to give Radio (Appointed Day) Order, 1961. Manx rather greater flexibility, I have (Government Circular No, 2/61). decided to replace the two Government- Annual Report and Accounts of the Isle nominated directors, who were ap- of Man Tourist Board for the year pointed initially to fulfil the necessary ended 31st March, 1960, together formalities, by a board of directors with the Report of the Public drawn from unofficial sources.