§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
§ VISCOUNT PEELMy Lords, in moving that this Bill be read a second time, may I say that its nature is explained in the Preamble. Its purpose is to continue until February 15, 192G, certain charges which were first, increased in the case of these canals and inland navigations under an Act of 1919. At that time these canals were taken over by His Majesty's Government and it was absolutely necessary to increase the charges to make them pay their way. Subsequently they were handed back to their owners. Nevertheless, the same difficulty remains, and I am under the necessity of asking your Lordships to permit this increase of charges to be carried on until that particular date in order that the Government may have an opportunity of 158 considering the whole matter from a rather larger point of view.
I only want to add that under the Act of 1922 there is a provision to safeguard traders; that is to say, when representations are made the Minister may refer the matter to the Fates Committee which will be able to see whether, within those powers, the rates charged are fair. I hope your Lordships will accept this Bill as; a merely temporary measure. I beg to move.
§ Moved, That the Bill be now read 2a—(Viscount Peel.)
§ On Question, Bill read 2a, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House.