HC Deb 28 July 1897 vol 51 cc1364-5

Order read, for resuming adjourned Debate on Question [11th May], "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

Question again proposed. Debate resumed.

MR. CALDWELL

complained that the right hon. Member for Montrose was not in his place when a Bill in which his constituency was so specially interested came on for consideration. He was confident that if the Lord Advocate did not take the Bill under his wing and left his Party discretion to vote as they pleased, the Bill would be rejected. It proposed to extend the borrowing powers of the local authorities from 20 to 30 years, and in all Scotland, Montrose was the only place that asked for this extension, for which he contended there was no necessity.

*THE LORD ADVOCATE

said that in introducing this Bill the Scotch Office had no doubt acceded to a request made by the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Montrose Burghs. The hon. Member opposite would not wish him not to extend to others the same consideration which he hoped he had always extended to the hon. Member himself. In England, the period for the repayment of these loans was 30 years, and it was thought desirable that there should be uniformity in this matter between the two countries.

DR. CLARK

did not see why the system existing in Scotland should be changed, and thought that it would be a bad thing to extend the period of repayment, having regard to the rates of interest at present prevailing.

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill read a Second time, and committed for To-morrow.