[373:3] May, 733.
[373:4] S.O.P.B. 87-89. Until 1902 the Speaker's Counsel and the paid referee were members, and the important members, of the court.
[374:1] Rep. Com. on Priv. Bill Leg., Com. Papers, 1888, XVI., 1, p. iv., and see the evidence before the Committee on Private Business, Com. Papers, 1902, VII., 321.
[374:2] S.O.P.B. 129-35. These precedents are collected in the reports of cases in the Court of Referees, by Rickards and Saunders, and Saunders and Austin.
[374:3] By the Borough Funds Act of 1872 the expense of promoting a private bill cannot be incurred by a local authority unless sanctioned by a meeting of the rate-payers. Glen, "Law of Public Health," 12 Ed., 483, 967-68. But this does not apply to matters for which provisional orders can be obtained. Ibid., 970; cf. Rep. of Com. on Priv. Business, Com. Papers, 1902, VII., 321, Qs. 2242, 2290-92, 2329-31. By the Borough Funds Act, 1903, no such sanction is required for opposing a private bill.
[374:4] Cf. May, 734-52.
[374:5] But usually only in case they appear as a class. S.O.P.B. 133; May, 735.
[375:1] Rep. of Com. on Municipal Trading, Com. Papers, 1900, VII., 183, Qs. 576, 582, 2377.
[375:2] If the Court of Referees thinks fit. S.O.P.B. 133a. This provision is not restricted to cases of competition.
[375:3] May, 691-93.