THIRD READING. (Hansard, 11 April 1859)

§ SIR HENRY WILLOUGHBY
said, he wished to ask whether this was merely a continuance Bill. A most important clause relating to savings' banks had been inserted in a continuance Bill a day or two before.

§ SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTE
said, this was a more continuance Bill.

§ MR. SOTHERON ESTCOURT
said, he wished to state with reference to the clause alluded to by the hon. Member, that during the last twelve months institutions called Penny Savings' Banks had been very generally adopted, but as the law now stood such institutions could not invest their funds beyond the limit of £200 in ordinary Savings' Banks. The Government had, however, proposed such alterations in the existing law as would place the Penny Savings' Banks in this respect upon the same footing with Friendly Societies and other similar institutions. He was informed that the clause was much required and had inserted it under the belief that no objection was felt to it.

§ MR. BOWYER
said, that as this was a Bill referring to the Navy, he hoped he should be in order in calling attention to the subject which he wished to bring before the House, relating to Greenwich Hospital. It appeared from the Report on the Manning of the Navy, that there were now a great number of vacancies in that establishment—no less than 960—which was sufficient to show that it was not popular with the navy, and that it did not give the satisfaction desirable to those for whom it was intended. He would not enter into matters of detail, but he wished to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty what measures the Government were prepared to take to place that noble establishment, which ought to be to them a subject of pride, on a better footing.

§ SIR JOHN PAKINGTON
said, as the hon. and learned Gentleman had given no notice of his question, he could only give him a general answer. The report to which he had alluded contained a great deal of matter, and undoubtedly the representations with reference to Greenwich Hospital were not the least important points to which it referred. It was the intention of Her Majesty's Government to inquire into the 1612 condition of that noble institution, with the view of ascertaining whether any, and what, changes were necessary to increase its efficiency.