HC Deb 26 July 1897 vol 51 cc1201-2

On the Order for the Second Reading,

SIR CAMERON GULL (Devon, Barnstaple)

desired to take the opportunity of urging upon the right hon. Gentleman in charge of the Bill to insert in Committee a clause extending the facilities which already existed in parish councils, parish meetings, and rural district councils to guarantee increased postal and telegraphic facilities to urban district councils. He believed there was no objection to the Amendment either on the part of the Local Government Board or the postal authorities, and he hoped the right hon. Gentleman would do his best to insert the provision in Committee.

MR. DILLON

thought the First Lord of the Treasury was hardly keeping faith with the House.

THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY

said he quite agreed that if the House meant to discuss the Bill they had better adjourn.

MR. DILLON

said he did not object to this Bill. He only wanted to know when the right lion. Gentleman was going to stop.

THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY

said he was not going to take any controversial business.

MR. J. CALDWELL (Lanark, Mid)

thought they were going rather far in this matter. They had already provided in the Congested Districts (Scotland) Bill that out of the Congested Districts Board they might provide for telegraphic extension in the congested districts. He thought that when they had got that power in that Bill they need not begin in a new Bill to give the power to parish councils to do a matter of this kind and put on local authorities what should be the duty of the post office authorities.

Bill Read a Second time, and committed for Wednesday.