§ MR. YERBURGHI beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the recent revelations of the grave abuses connected with the present system of usury, and with the practices of moneylenders in England, Wales, and Ireland; and whether, in the interests of the 605 agricultural, trading, and working classes, who furnish the greatest number of victims, the Government will advise the appointment of a Royal Commission to inquire into the whole subject?
§ SIR W. HARCOURTLike my hon. Friend I am very conscious of the mischief produced by money-lenders upon all classes of society, but I doubt very much whether any Royal Commission will ever prevent money-lenders from making victims of people who want money.
§ MR. YERBURGHDo I gather, then, that the right hon. Gentleman will not grant the Royal Commission I ask?
§ SIR W. HARCOURTWell, Sir, I will consider the matter, but I confess I am not sanguine about it.