§ MR. E. M'HUGHI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if it is the intention of the Government early next year to reintroduce the Irish Loan Fund Bill, and push it rapidly through all its stages, seeing that it cannot conveniently be passed in 97 the present Session; and will he undertake to have its scope enlarged so that poor depositors may have some chance of recovering the amounts they honestly invested in the Loan Funds?
§ MR. ATKINSONIt is the intention of the Government to re-introduce this Bill next year, but obviously I cannot now give an undertaking respecting its passage. The Bill facilitates the recovery from borrowers of sums equitably due by them to loan fund societies, which is absolutely necessary for the protection of depositors. The question whether any legislation beyond this is necessary in the interests of the latter will be considered.