§ Order for Third Reading To-morrow read.
§ MR. BENTINCKsaid, he wished to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, What course he intends to adopt with regard to this Bill, which stands on the paper for tomorrow night?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERSir, the Question of the hon. Gentleman affords me a convenient opportunity for stating the course which Her Majesty's Government intend to adopt with regard to this Bill. In the view of Her Majesty's Government the Bill contains concessions to the issuers of private notes which they would not have deemed themselves justified in asking Parliament to sanction had they not hoped that thereby a general agreement would be arrived at between themselves and the country bankers. Unfortunately, however, recent proceedings out of doors showed that no such agreement exists, and therefore it is not the intention of the Government to proceed with the Bill. Her Majesty's Government, however, do not propose to abandon their intention of prosecuting the subject, and, in the absence of such an 1124 agreement as I have referred to, they may conceive it to be their duty to take up the question on a future occasion upon broader grounds, and they reserve to themselves the power of determining whether it would or would not be right that on the first convenient opportunity, which I am not prepared to say will occur during the short remainder of the Session, they should invite the assistance of Parliament to investigate this subject by means of a Committee.
§ Order discharged: Bill withdrawn.