§ MR. BYNGsaid, this Act had been passed at the fag-end of last Session, at a time when there was a thin attendance, and there were several points connected with its construction on which doubt existed. He wished to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether its provisions, which would come into operation on the 223 13th of next May, were compulsory or permissive; whether the magistrates at Quarter-Sessions would be allowed to defray out of the county rates not only the expenses of the inspectors, but the pay of sub-inspectors and of labourers, who would be required to assist the inspectors, the cost of stations, and of model gas-holders; and if so, whether the small remuneration (six-pence) to be allowed for stamping the models, would be increased by a Supplemental Bill? In Middlesex the cost of the new system would, it was estimated, amount to £2,000 a year; and if only sixpence were allowed for stamping the models, the result would be to throw a heavy additional burden on the ratepayers.