§ Order for Consideration read.
§ MR. VANCEcomplained that under the Bill the accounts of money received in Scotland and Ireland would be kept in London, instead of, as the accounts of the money-order offices in those countries were now kept, in Edinburgh or Dublin respectively. To remedy this he proposed that in the first clause the word "offices" should be substituted for "office," and that after London the words "Dublin and Edinburgh" should be inserted.
§ Amendment proposed, in Clause 1, line 13, to leave out the word "office," and insert the word "offices"—instead thereof.
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERsaid, he hoped the Motion would not be pressed. It professed to amend the language of the Bill, but it really made it worse. Nothing could be more absurd than to create three centres of investment and three centres of management of money; but such would be the effect of the Amendment, for England, Scotland, and Ireland. It would be just as rational to provide that the money deposited in Yorkshire and Lancashire should be invested in Yorkshire and Lancashire. That was not the intention of the hon. Gentleman, but it would certainly be the effect of his proposition if it were adopted. He admitted there was some objection to specifying that all the transmissions should be made to London, and therefore he proposed to strike out the word "London," and thus the question would be left quite open. The whole operation of investment must be central, but that would not interfere with the system of accounts and transmission which now existed in Dublin and Edinburgh.
§ MR. VANCEsaid, he was quite satisfied with the statement of the right hon. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERsaid, he thought it would be better to strike out the words "in London," with- 351 out inserting the words "Dublin and Edinburgh."
§ Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.
§ Amendment made.
§ Bill to be read 3o on Friday.
§ House adjourned at a quarter before Sight o'clock.