§ MR. GOURLEYasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, If he intends this Session to introduce a Bill to amend and codify the Laws regulating Benefit Building Societies; and, if so, whether such Bill will be independent of or comprise a part of that intended to be introduced for the regulation of Friendly Societies?
MR. ASSHETON CROSS, in reply, said, that since that Question had been put upon the Paper, Notice had been given by the hon. Member for Finsbury (Mr. Torrens) that he would introduce a Bill on Monday next on that subject. The Government, as the House were aware, had undertaken to deal with 337 Friendly Societies this year, and until their Bill was in a more mature state than it was at present, it was impossible for him to give a definite answer whether they would themselves take in hand the question of Building Societies this Session. But if they did it would be independent of the measure they would bring in with respect to Friendly Societies.