§ MR. EARPasked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, If it will be convenient to bring in the Bill relating to Friendly Societies before Whitsuntide, at which time members of such societies hold important meetings, affording favourable opportunities for considering any proposed changes in the Law affecting their interests?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERSir, the Report of the Commission on Friendly Societies is now in the hands of the Queen's printers, and I am informed it will be in the hands of the public in the course of about a week. Her Majesty's Government have not yet had an opportunity of considering any Bill on the subject, though I hope a measure will be ready for introduction soon after Whitsuntide. I am aware that Whitsuntide is an important time for meetings of friendly societies, and I wish to point out that the Report contains all the recommendations of the Commission, and in a form very convenient for consideration at those meetings.