THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHQUER, in moving "That Mr. Speaker do now leave the Chair," said, that as first introduced the Bill made borrowing by local authorities compulsory to a considerable extent, and it also contained provisions with regard to audit and other matters which were objected to by several important municipalities. As the result of an interview with the representatives of these municipalities, he had so far modified the Bill as to meet their views. The hon. Member for Hackney (Mr. Fawcett) had put on the Paper an Amendment which, though it had little to do with the principle of the Bill, was so far cognate to it that it could, he supposed, be discussed on the Motion to go into Committee. Owing, however, to the late period of the Session, he had appealed to the hon. Gentleman to withdraw his Amendment and allow the measure to 543 go forward. This the hon. Gentleman had courteously declined to do, and it therefore became necessary to push the measure forward as rapidly as possible. The hon. Member for Hackney not being present, he would only on the present occasion ask the House to proceed so far as to commit the Bill, leaving it for the hon. Member, if he thought fit, to move his Amendment on the Motion to postpone the Preamble. The same remark would also apply to an Amendment placed on the Paper by the hon. Member for Hythe (Sir Edward Watkin).
MR. GOSOHENsaid, the suggestion was a reasonable one, provided that the Amendments should be taken at an hour when they could be properly and fairly discussed. This, with the changes that had been made in it, was still an important Bill, as it involved the question of the investment of public money.
§ Motion agreed to,
§ Bill considered in Committee.
§ House resumed.
§ Committee report Progress; to sit again To-morrow.