HC Deb 20 February 1957 vol 565 cc504-15

Motion made, and Question proposed, That the Clause stand part of the Bill.

Mr. Hamilton Kerr (Cambridge)

This Clause affects my constituency, the City of Cambridge. We are grateful for the concession it provides in terms of the equalisation grant, but I would like to recall that my right hon. Friend the Minister, during the Second Reading debate, said the Clause "restores fairness where there is unintended unfairness."

This unintended unfairness bore with extra weight upon my constituency for two reasons. First, college properties cover a large part of the most valuable rateable area. Secondly, Cambridge, unlike Oxford, cannot draw large revenues from industrial areas. Therefore, this unintended unfairness takes the unfortunate form of about £230 extra on the rates, or a rate of about 2s.

While we welcome the concession contained in this Clause, I have been asked by the Cambridgeshire County Council and the Cambridge City Council to protest in the strongest possible terms against the fact that the concession starts only in 1957 to 1958 and not in 1956 to 1957.

7.15 p.m.

Mr. Roderic Bowen (Cardigan)

I wish to associate myself with the protestations made by the hon. Gentleman the Member for Cambridge (Mr. Hamilton Kerr). This Clause is not of general interest, but it is of real concern to the City of Cambridge and to the Counties of Cardigan and Caernarvon. I am sure that if my hon. Friend the Member for Caernarvon (Mr. G. Roberts) were not unavoidably absent, he would associate himself with the remarks made by the hon. Member for Cambridge and those which I propose to make.

The hon. Gentleman referred to what the Minister said about unintended unfairness. There can be no doubt that the operation of Section 8 on the amount of rate equalisation grant receivable by Cardigan was unfair to an extent which placed a real burden upon that local authority. Some local authorities are better able to bear burdens than others. I will give a few figures to make it clear that the injustice referred to by the Minister is a very real one for Cardigan.

The reduction of equalisation grant due to Section 8 losses for 1956–57, in the case of my county, was £36,888. That represents a loss due to the operation of Section 8 in equalisation grant alone of 8 per cent. of the total rateable value in the county and, in terms of rate poundage, amounts to 1s. 8d. That position is aggravated by the fact that we have already lost over £100,000 in equalisation grant and that, despite the fact that our rateable values have increased by 156 per cent., it has been possible to reduce the county precept by only 1s. 6d., so that the loss in 1956–57, amounting to £36,888, is a serious matter for the local authority.

I gathered from the observations of the Parliamentary Secretary, during the Second Reading debate, that what will happen when this Clause comes into operation is that in respect of 1957–58 the equalisation grant will be increased by about £13,500. While that increase is welcome, it does not go anything like far enough to make up the loss we shall suffer by the operation of Section 8, and that is a matter of great disappointment to the local authority.

Quite apart from the effect of this on the county as a whole, it has a particularly damaging effect upon the Borough of Aberystwyth. The properties in Aberystwyth coming within Section 8 represent 20 per cent. of the total rateable values. The borough provides a home for two of our national institutions. The effect of all this is that, while there is an average increase of 156 per cent. in the rateable value, the rates of the borough are still 21s. 3d. in the £.

I hope that the Minister will have something to say about the discrepancies between the losses suffered as a result of the operation of Section 8 and the additions to be made in 1957–58. The fact that Clause 4 is not retrospective to cover 1956–57 is a cause of dissatisfaction to the local authority.

Mr. Mitchison

I want to say a word from a slightly different point of view. We are considering the effect of Section 8 of the 1955 Act, which has given trouble in various ways. There have been uncertainties about it, and there have been some very remarkable differences of practice.

I believe very much in discretion being given to local authorities, and part, at any rate, of the relief which may be given under Section 8 is discretionary. However, there comes a moment sometimes when one wonders whether the section really is working out all right and whether there is not something wrong with its terms.

I am raising this matter on behalf of one of my hon. Friends who represents a Leicester constituency; his utterances in the House are rather limited. Apparently, there is a society for providing convalescent homes in Leicester and the county. It is not open to quite everybody, although it is on a fairly broad basis. There is, consequently, some question about its exact character, but I will not go into that any further.

The society's offices are in Leicester, and they obtain relief under Clause 1. The society has three convalescent homes, two in adjacent rural districts and one in an adjacent urban district, and the local authorities concerned are not very large ones. The local authorities have refused relief to the homes. Some pithy comments appeared in the Leicester Mercury under the heading: Rate relief for golf but not for homes. Golf is provided for, along with other sports, under Section 8 (1). I do not ask the Minister to give any undertaking about this other than to look at the terms of the section and consider whether he thinks that they really effect the purpose that we all had in mind and whether this may not be a case where he ought to issue a circular containing—not directions, because he could not very well do that—some advice to local authorities, for I am sure that many of them would welcome it. It does not seem right that the Clause should have the rather anomalous result of relieving golf clubs, but not convalescent homes.

Mr. Dye

I wish to bring out a little more clearly than has so far been done one aspect of the effects of the Clause. The County Councils Association felt that there was an injustice because the equalisation grant for Cambridgeshire was calculated on the basis that the county had received rates for all the college property. Because of that calculation, the Treasury paid less in the current financial year to Cambridge and Cambridgeshire than it would otherwise have done. Thus, the Treasury has had the advantage of this anomaly in the current year. If the Government wish to rectify the matter, it is only fair that the provisions should be made retrospective to cover the current year.

In the case of shopkeepers, and others under Clause 1, there can be no question of retrospection, because it is a matter only as between different ratepayers. However, in this instance, the Government have gained an advantage from the anomaly, and the view of the County Councils Association is that what the authorities have lost should be made good. Therefore, the provisions of the Clause should date from April, 1956. I have heard no sound reasons why that should not be done. The Government should do justice with a gallant heart.

The hon. Member for Cambridge (Mr. Hamilton Kerr) has expressed his views on the subject. It seems to be a lapse on the part of the hon. and learned Member for Cambridgeshire (Mr. Gerald Howard) that he is not present to speak for the county. However, I know the county very well indeed, and I urge the Minister to say that the injustice should be put right by dating these provisions back to the beginning of the current financial year.

Mr. Bevins

I am obliged to my hon. Friend the Member for Cambridge (Mr. Hamilton Kerr) and the other hon. Gentlemen for raising this matter. One of the points made is that the relief to the three local authorities which have been mentioned ought to be made retrospective to the financial year 1956–57 instead of beginning in the next financial year. The second point is that the compensation which is being afforded to these local authorities by way of equalisation grant is not complete compensation for what they have lost as a result of Section 8 of the 1955 Act.

Local authorities and individuals who think that they have suffered an injustice always like the remedy to be dated back to the time it started. However, making matters of this sort retrospective in operation is contrary to the attitude taken by Parliament. Only twelve months ago there were substantial changes in the equalisation grant payments to local authorities, and these were made because a number of important local authorities had been suffering from a sense of injustice for a long time. It might have been suggested that the operation of those changes should have been made retrospective, but that principle was not accepted.

With all due respect to my hon. Friend, one could equally argue that the remedy to the injustice which we on this side of the Committee think has existed in the case of shopkeepers and commercial people during the last twelve months ought to be made retrospective to the beginning of the current financial year; but, of course, that is not proposed in Clause 1. Therefore, sorry as I am, I cannot hold out any promise of this act of mercy being performed retrospectively for the three authorities concerned.

7.30 p.m.

On the extent to which the equalisation grant compensates these three local authorities, the situation is, of course, that the equalisation grant as at present devised can take account of the virtual loss of rateable value of those local authorities, but I do not pretend that they are getting compensation for what they have lost as a result of Section 8 of the Rating and Valuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act. 1955. As my right hon. Friend has said, we are in the process of our talks and deliberations and a good deal of further consideration on the future formula of the equalisation grant.

I hope that the hon. and learned Member for Cardigan (Mr. Bowen) and my hon. Friend the Member for Cambridge will not think that the present pattern of equalisation grants is here in perpetuity, but I am sorry that for the moment I cannot offer a promise of additional relief, other than that afforded under Clause 4.

Mr. Mitchison

Will not the hon. Gentleman reply to my question about the effect of Section 8 of the previous Act, which appears to give relief to golf clubs but not to convalescent homes?

Mr. Bevins

I am sorry, I did not understand that the hon. and learned Member wanted a reply to his question at this stage.

The question of convalescent homes owned by friendly societies has been the subject of a decision of the courts, as he probably knows. I do not think that it arises under Clause 4, but I am informed by my right hon. Friend that his predecessor promised to re-examine Section 8 of the earlier Act and I assure the hon. and learned Member that, in due course, that will be done.

Mr. Mitchison

I hope that that point will be borne in mind when that is done.

Mr. Bevins

That point will be borne in mind, although I cannot give an undertaking about what will happen.

Mr. Hamilton Kerr

When will this review of equalisation grants take place?

Mr. Bevins

It is part of the general view of local government finance, which is now under way. Discussions with the local authority associations will be begun very shortly. When they will be finalised I am not in a position to say at the moment. We are pressing on with all expedition.

Question put and agreed to.

Clause ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clauses 5 and 6 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Bill reported, without Amendment.

7.35 p.m.

Mr. Bevins

I beg to move, That the Bill be now read the Third time.

I should like to make one or two very brief comments. The first is on the very rapid progress which the House has made in consideration of this small, but, none-the-less contentious Bill. I wish to say, speaking for my right hon. Friend, that we are indeed grateful for the co-operation which we have had from Members on both sides of the House. After all, the Bill had its Second Reading as recently as 7th February, its Committee stage was started on 14th February, and its Third Reading takes place today, 20th February. In the ordinary course of events, my right hon. Friend would have been very glad to have taken the Bill in Committee upstairs, but, as the hon. and learned Member and many of his friends already know, many of us have been preoccupied upstairs with another Bill which is also of a slightly contentious character. My right hon. Friend is grateful for the co-operation of the party opposite and of his hon. Friends on this side of the House.

7.36 p.m.

Mr. Mitchison

I shall not repeat the very strong and forceful arguments which were put by my hon. Friends and myself against Clause 1. If it is co-operation to say that the Clause is ill-timed, unjust, ill-considered and wholly wrong, then, indeed, I am a very cordial co-operator with the hon. Gentleman. There really are some limits to the misuse of Parliamentary courtesy, and I feel bound to say that.

As regards progress on the Bill; of course, rushing the Bill through the House has been most successfully accomplished by the simple device of intimating to the House beforehand that whatever was said, no Amendment would be accepted. In those circumstances, it is perfectly clear that we could not have had an adequate Report stage, and those who, as it were, go towards this slightly different form of guillotine, do not wish to have hanging over their heads that kind of procedure, and they shy away from the somewhat useless struggle. To show the degree of our co-operation and our dislike of Clause 1 we propose to divide on the Third Reading. As to the timing, on this side of the House we keep our promises, and we promised the Government that we would let them have the Third Reading by eight o'clock.

7.38 p.m.

Mr. F. Harris

On the subject of cooperation, I join with the hon. and learned Member for Kettering (Mr. Mitchison). My co-operation would have been much more complete if industrial rerating had been included in the provisions of the Bill, not on a 50 per cent. basis, but on a complete basis.

I am sure that all the increases in rates which will be levied throughout the country in the very near future will be blamed on the Bill. I tried very hard to make that point, and I have certainly taken all the care I can in Croydon to ensure that there is no misunderstanding in that great town. Nevertheless, I am absolutely certain that everybody will assume when increased rates are levied that it is all due to the fact that the poor shopkeepers are getting relief to which they are not entitled and that everybody else is paying for them.

I should like to make clear that I hope it will become obvious that the rate increases will not be due solely to the Bill, although partly due to the Bill, but due to the many other demands which will be put upon local authorities in the forthcoming financial year. I hope that that point will be made abundantly clear when

the time comes. I certainly do not want to detain the passage of the Bill, which I feel to be the meeting of an honourable undertaking which I am pleased the Government gave.

7.39 p.m.

Mr. Grime Finlay (Epping)

I should like to say "Thank you" to the Minister for the Bill. I know that hon. Members opposite consider that what has been done is a great concession to the banks and other large office organisations and large companies, but the stark facts are—and it is well to recall them—that before revaluation in 1956, shops bore 11 per cent. of the total rateable burden; under the new assessments that rose to 14 per cent., and, as a result of the Bill, it will be down to 12 per cent. I say that in spite of the impatience of the hon. and learned Member for Kettering (Mr. Mitchison).

Mr. Mitchison

It was not impatience, but amusement. I seem to have heard it before, perhaps when the hon. Member was not in the Chamber.

Mr. Finlay

That may be so, but if I had not said it, or if one of my hon. Friends had not said it, the hon. and learned Member would have been reproaching us for not speaking.

I want to say "Thank you" to the Minister on behalf of the shopkeepers in my constituency, who, to a great extent, are small shopkeepers. They have made it clear that they appreciate what has been done, and I want to make it absolutely certain that that is understood.

Question put, That the Bill be now read the Third time:

The House divided: Ayes 199, Noes 162.

Division No. 68.] AYES [7.40 p.m.
Agnew, Sir Peter Body, R. F. Corfield, Capt. F. V.
Aitken W. T. Bossom, Sir Alfred Craddock, Beresford (Spelthorne)
Amery, Julian (Preston, N.) Bowen, E. R. (Cardigan) Crouch, R. F.
Amory, Rt. Hn. Heathcoat (Tiverton) Boyle, Sir Edward Crowder, Petre (Ruislip—Northwood)
Arbuthnot, John Braithwaite, Sir Albert (Harrow, W.) Cunningham, Knox
Armstrong, C. W. Bromley-Davenport, Lt.-Col. W. H. Currie, G. B. H.
Atkins, H. E. Brooke, Rt. Hon. Henry Dance, J. C, C.
Baldock, Lt.-Cmdr. J. M, Brooman-White, R. C. Deedes, W. F.
Baldwin, A. E. Bryan, P. Digby, Simon Wingfield
Balniel, Lord Bullus, Wing Commander E. E. Donaldson, Cmdr. C. E. McA.
Barber, Anthony Burden, F. F. A. Doughty, C. J. A.
Barlow, Sir John Butcher, Sir Herbert du Cann, E. D. L.
Barter, John Butler, Rt. Hn. R. A. (Saffron Walden) Elliot, Rt. Hon. W. E.
Bell, Ronald (Bucks, S.) Campbell, Sir David Errington, Sir Eric
Bevins, J. R. (Toxteth) Carr, Robert Fell, A.
Bidgood, J. C. Channon, Sir Henry Finlay, Graeme
Biggs-Davison, J. A. Cooper, A. E. Fletcher-Cooke, C.
Birch, Rt. Hon. Nigel Cooper-Key, E. M. Fraser, Sir Ian(M'cmbe & Lonsdale)
Bishop, F. P. Cordeaux, Lt.-Col. J. K. Garner-Evans, E. H.
George, J. C. (Pollok) Lindsay, Martin (Solihull) Redmayne, M,
Gibson-Watt, D. Linstead, Sir H. N. Rees-Davies, W. R.
Glover, O. Lloyd, Maj. Sir Guy (Renfrew, E.) Ridsdale, J. E.
Godber, J. B. Longden, Gilbert Rippon, A. G. F.
Gower, H. R. Lucas, Sir Jocelyn (Portsmouth, S.) Robertson, Sir David
Graham, Sir Fergus Lucas-Tooth, Sir Hugh Robinson, Sir Roland (Blackpool, S.)
Grant-Ferris, Wg. Cdr. R. (Nantwich) McAdden, S. J. Roper, Sir Harold
Green, A. Mackeson, Brig. Sir Harry Ropner, Col. Sir Leonard
Grimston, Sir Robert (Westbury) McKibbin, A. J. Russell, R. S.
Gurden, Harold Mackie, J. H. (Galloway) Schofield, Lt.-Col. W.
Harris, Frederic (Croydon, N. W.) McLaughlin, Mrs. P. Scott-Miller, Cmdr. R.
Harris, Reader (Heston) Maclean, Fitzroy (Lancaster) Shepherd, William
Harrison, A. B. C. (Maldon) Macleod, Rt. Hn. lain (Enfield, W.) Simon, J. E. S. (Middlesbr'gh, W.)
Harrison, Col. J. H. (Eye) MacLeod, John (Ross & Cromarty) Spens, Rt. Hn. Sir P. (Kens'gt'n, S.)
Harvey, Air Cdre. A, V. (Macclesfd) Macmillan, Rt. Hn. Harold (Bromley) Steward, Harold (Stockport, S.)
Heald, Rt. Hon. Sir Lionel Macpherson, Niall (Dumfries) Steward, Sir William (Woolwich, W.)
Heath, Rt. Hon. E. R. G. Maddan, Martin Stewart, Henderson (Fife, E.)
Hesketh, R. F. Maitland, Cdr. J. F. W. (Horncastle) Stoddart-Scott, Col. M.
Hill, Mrs. E. (Wythenshawe) Maitland, Hon. Patrick (Lanark) Storey, S.
Hill, John (S. Norfolk) Manningham-Buller, Rt. Hn. Sir R. Summers, Sir Spencer
Hinchingbrooke, Viscount Markham, Major Sir Frank Sumner, W. D. M. (Orpington)
Holland-Martin, C. J. Marshall, Douglas Teeling, W.
Hornby, R. P. Mathew, R. Temple, J. M.
Horobin, Sir Ian Maude, Angus Thomas, Leslie (Canterbury)
Horsbrugh, Rt. Hon. Dame Florence Maudling, Rt. Hon. R, Thomas, P. J. M. (Conway)
Howard, John (Test) Mawby, R. L. Thompson, Kenneth (Walton)
Hudson, W. R. A. (Hull, N.) Milligan, Rt. Hon. W, R. Thompson, Lt.-Cdr. R.(Croydon, S.)
Hughes-Young, M. H. C. Molson, Rt. Hon. Hugh Thornton-Kemsley, C. N.
Hulbert, Sir Norman Mott-Radclyffe, Sir Charles Tiley, A. (Bradford, W.)
Hurd, A. R. Nabarro, G. D. N. Vane, W. M. F.
Hylton-Foster, Rt. Hon. Sir Harry Nicholls, Harmar Vickers, Miss J. H.
Wade, D. W.
Irvine, Bryant Godman (Rye) Nicolson, N. (B'n'm'th, E. & Chr'ch) Wakefield, Sir Wavell (St. M'lebone)
Jenkins, Robert (Dulwich) Nugent, G. R. H. Wall, Major Patrick
Johnson, Dr. Donald (Carlisle) O'Neill, Hn. Phelim (Co. Antrim, N.) Ward, Rt. Hon. C. R. (Worcester)
Johnson, Eric (Blackley) Orr, Capt. L. P. S. Ward, Dame Irene (Tynemouth)
Joseph, Sir Keith Osborne, C. Waterhouse, Capt. Rt. Hon. C.
Kaberry, D. Page, R. G. Whitelaw, W.S.I.(Penrith & Border)
Keegan, D. Pannell, N. A. (Kirkdale) Williams, Paul (Sunderland, S.)
Kerby, Capt. H. B. Partridge, E. Williams, R. Dudley (Exeter)
Kerr, H. W. Peyton, J. W. W. Wills, G. (Bridgwater)
Kimball, M. Pike, Miss Mervyn Wilson, Geoffrey (Truro)
Kirk, P. M. Pitman, I. J. Wood, Hon. R.
Lambert, Hon. G. Pott, H. P. Woollam, John Victor
Lancaster, Col. C. G. Powell, J. Enoch Yates, William (The Wrekin)
Leavey, J. A. Price, Henry (Lewisham, W.)
Leburn, W. G. Prior-Palmer, Brig. O. L. TELLERS FOR THE AYES:
Legge-Bourke, Maj. E. A. H. Ramsden, J. E. Mr. Legh and Mr. Wakefield.
Lindsay, Hon. James (Devon, N.) Rawlinson, Peter
NOES
Ainsley, J. W. Craddock, George (Bradford, S.) Hughes, Cledwyn (Anglesey)
Allaun, Frank (Salford, E.) Cronin, J. D. Hughes, Emrys (S. Ayrshire)
Allen, Scholefield (Crewe) Cullen, Mrs. A. Hunter, A. E.
Awbery, S. S. Dalton, Rt. Hon. H. Hynd, H. (Accrington)
Bacon, Miss Alice Davies, Ernest (Enfield, E.) Hynd, J. B. (Attercliffe)
Bellenger, Rt. Hon. F. J. Davles, Harold (Leek) Irvine, A. J. (Edge Hill)
Bence, C. R. (Dunbartonshire, E.) Davies, Stephen (Merthyr) Isaacs, Rt. Hon. G. A.
Benson, G. de Freitas, Geoffrey Janner, B.
Bevan, Rt. Hon. A. (Ebbw Vale) Delargy, H. J. Jeger, George (Goole)
Blackburn, F. Dye, S. Jeger, Mrs. Lena(Holbn & St. Pncs, S)
Blenkinsop, A. Ede, Rt. Hon. J. C. Johnson, James (Rugby)
Blyton, W. R. Edwards, Rt. Hon. Ness (Caerphilly) Jones, Rt. Hon. A. Creech (Wakefield)
Boardman, H. Edwards, W. J. (Stepney) Jones, David (The Hartlepools)
Bottomley, Rt. Hon. A. G. Evans, Albert (Islington, S.W.) Jones, Elwyn (W. Ham, S.)
Bowden, H. W. (Leicester, S.W.) Fernyhough, E. Jones, Jack (Rotherham)
Bowles, F. G. Finch, H. J. Jones, J. Idwal (Wrexham)
Boyd, T. C. Fletcher, Eric Kenyon, C.
Braddock, Mrs. Elizabeth Forman, J. C. Key, Rt. Hon. C. W.
Brockway, A. F. Fraser, Thomas (Hamilton) Lawson, G. M.
Brought on, Dr. A. D. D. Gibson, C. W. Lee, Frederick (Newton)
Brown, Rt. Hon. George (Belper) Gooch, E. G. Lee, Miss Jennie (Cannock)
Brown, Thomas (Ince) Greenwood, Anthony Lever, Leslie (Ardwick)
Burke, W. A. Grenfell, Rt. Hon. D. R. Lewis, Arthur
Burton, Mist F. E. Grey, C. F. Lindgren, G. S.
Butler, Herbert (Hackney, C.) Hale, Leslie Logan, D. G.
Champion, A. J. Hall, Rt. Hn. Glenvil (Colne Valley) McGhee, H. G.
Chapman, W. D. Hamilton, W. W. McInnes, J.
Chetwynd, G. R. Hannan, W. McKay, John (Wallsend)
Clunie, J. Hayman, F. H. McLeavy, Frank
Collick, P. H. (Birkenhead) Herbison, Miss M. MacDermot, Niall
Collins, V. J. (Shoreditch & Finsbury) Hobson, C. R. MacPherson, Malcolm (Stirling)
Corbet, Mrs. Freda Howell, Charles (Perry Barr) Mahon, Simon
Cove, W. G. Hubbard, T. F. Mason, Roy
Mellish, R, J. Reeves, J. Tomney, F.
Mitchison, G. R. Reid, William Ungoed-Thomas, Sir Lynn
Monslow, W. Roberts, Albert (Normanton) Usborne, H. C.
Moody, A. S. Rogers, George (Kensington, N.) Warbey, W. N.
Morrison, Rt. Hn. Herbert (Lewis'm, S.) Ross, William Weitzman, D.
Mort, D. L. Short, E. W. Wells, Percy (Faversham)
Moss, R. Silverman, Julius (Aston) West, D. C.
Moyle, A. Silverman, Sydney (Nelson) Wheeldon, W. E.
Neal, Harold (Bolsover) Simmons, C. J. (Brierley Hill) Wilkins, W. A.
Oliver, C. H. Smith, Ellis (Stoke, S.) Williams, David (Neath)
Oswald, T. Snow, J. W. Williams, Rev. Llywelyn (Ab'tillery)
Paling, Rt. Hon. W. (Dearne Valley) Sorensen, R. W. Williams, Ronald (Wigan)
Palmer, A. M. F. Soskice, Rt. Hon. Sir Frank Williams, W. R. (Openshaw)
Parker, J. Sparks, O. A. Willis, Eustace (Edinburgh, E.)
Pearson, A. Stones, W. (Consett) Wilson, Rt. Hon. Harold (Huyton)
Pentland, N. Strachey, Rt. Hon. J. Winterbottom, Richard
Plummer, Sir Leslie Summerskill, Rt. Hon. E. Woodburn, Rt. Hon. A.
Popplewell, E. Sylvester, G. O. Younger, Rt. Hon. K.
Price, Philips (Gloucestershire, W.) Taylor, Bernard (Mansfield) Zilliacus, K.
Probert, A. R. Taylor, John (West Lothian)
Pryde, D. J. Thomas, Iorwerth (Rhondda, W.) TELLERS FOR THE NOES:
Randall, H. E. Timmons, J. Mr. J. T. Price and Mr. Holmes

Bill accordingly read the Third time and passed.