HC Deb 31 July 1866 vol 184 cc1844-5

(Mr. Secretary Walpole, Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Hunt.)

[BILL 251.] COMMITTEE.

Order for Committee read.

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That Mr. Speaker do now leave the Chair."

Bill considered in Committee.

(In the Committee.)

Clause 1.

MR. WALPOLE

stated that he had found it absolutely imperative that the rate of interest on the loan by the Public Works Loan Commissioners should not be less than 3¼ per cent, instead of 3 per cent, as had been proposed.

MR. WATKIN

complained that by the wretched legislation of the late Government Liverpool had been entirely exempted from the cattle disease rate, while Birkenhead, Stockport, and other towns had to contribute towards it. Moreover, instead of Parliament being called together in October to legislate for stamping out the disease, nothing was done till February or March, when the disease had broken out in 450 places in Cheshire. The loan at 3 per cent was part of a compromise between the county and the boroughs, and he regretted that the arrangements should be disturbed.

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER

said, the Government had every desire to assist the county in the present emergency, but 3¼ per cent was the rate fixed for the advances made during the cotton famine, and the conditions of repayment would, he hoped, be some alleviation of the increased interest.

MR. CHILDERS

said, it was necessary to fix 3¼ per cent as the minimum, otherwise the Commissioners would be inundated with applications.

Amendment agreed to.

Clause agreed to.

On Question that the Preamble be agreed to,

MR. WATKIN

inquired, what course the right hon. Gentleman intended to pursue in future with regard to remedying the inequalities in levying the rate in boroughs?

MR. WALPOLE

admitted that the rates were raised very unequally. However, he was happy to say that the plague among cattle had greatly diminished of late, and during the past week it had reached a minimum of 250 or 300. He therefore trusted that, with the blessing of Providence, there would be no necessity for altering the method of levying the rate, but if unfortunately the plague should again increase, the Government would bring in some measure to rectify the inequalities in the rate.

Preamble agreed to.

House resumed.

Bill reported; as amended, to be considered To-morrow.