§ MR. H. LEWIS (Flint Boroughs)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury is he aware that the proof sheets of the Debates for the 20th April did not reach the Members who took part in them until the 29th April; whether he is aware that every Member of the Canadian Parliament receives in the morning with his Parliamentary Papers an official unrevised report of the proceedings of the previous day; and whether there is any reason why Members of the Imperial Parliament should not have the same privilege?
§ MR. ANSTRUTHER (St. Andrews Burghs) (who replied on behalf of Mr. Hanbury)The answer to the first paragraph is in the affirmative. The delay was due to alterations having to be made in the contractor's machinery rooms as required by the local authority. Thu answer to the second paragraph is in the negative. It would not be possible under the existing contract to require proofs to be delivered as suggested in the Question, old the large additional expense would in any ease hardly be justified by any compensating advantage. The conditions of the Canadian Parliament vary considerably from those of the Imperial Parliament.
§ MR. CHANNING (Northampton, E.)May I ask whether the honourable Gentleman is not aware that the practice referred to is adopted in the case of Private Bills?
§ MR. ANSTRUTHERYes, Sir; but probably at very considerable expense.
§ MR. LEWISMay I, ask in what respects the conditions of the Canadian Parliament differ from those of our own?
§ [No Reply.]