§ Order for Second Reading read.
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Bill be now read a second time."—(Sir W. Harcourt.)
§ MR. HANBURY (Preston)thought, as this was an important Government Bill, the House was entitled to be treated with a little more respect than to be asked to accept it without the slightest explanation. This was not the first measure that the Government had attempted to rush through the House this Session without discussion. The object of this Bill was, as he understood, to enable the Government to reduce the balance in the Treasury Chest, and a very suspicious circumstance in connection with this proceeding was that it had only occurred twice before during the last half-century. In the absence of an explanation from the Chancellor of the Exchequer, hon. Members could not know what were the intentions of the Government; but he gathered that they, in looking about for a means of improving their crippled finances, had found an opportunity of adding £300,000 to their Exchequer from the Treasury Chest. That did not seem a, proper way of dealing with the finances of the country. The right hon. Gentleman had declared that they ought not to trust to borrowing; but he had set a far worse example in proposing to reduce the balance of the Treasury Chest in order to lessen his deficit.
§ SIR W. HARCOURTI gave a full explanation of the Bill in my Budget speech, and I am unwilling to waste more time after the whole day has been occupied before the first Order was reached —a memorable example of the difficulties under which Business has now to be conducted. The Bill is intended to sanction a most ordinary transaction.
§ It being ten minutes to Seven of the Clock, the Debate stood adjourned.
§ Debate to be resumed To-morrow.