HC Deb 19 March 1900 vol 80 cc1283-5

Considered in Committee.

(In the Committee.)

[Mr. J. W. LOWTHER (Cumberland, Penrith) in the Chair.]

MR. T. M. HEALY (Louth, N.)

appealed to the right hon. Gentleman the Home Secretary not to press the Bill, as many hon. Members interested in the measure had been taken by surprise, and did not anticipate that it would be reached.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD(Mr. CHAPLIN,) Lincolnshire, Sleaford

This Bill has been through Committee stage, and has been subjected to a great deal of discussion already.

Dr. TANNER (Cork Co., Mid)

said he held certain objections to the Bill because several points had not been dealt with, but he would waive his objections and let his friends opposite have absolutely their own sweet way.

Bill reported without Amendment.

MR. CHAPLIN

I beg to move the Third Reading of this Bill.

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Bill be now read for the Third time."

MR. CALDWELL (Lanark, Mid)

I think it is really too much to ask the House to take the Third Reading of this measure at this late hour.

MR. CHAPLIN

I do not take it that the hon. Member opposite has any intention of opposing the future progress of the Census Bill. To carry out the Census in a proper manner a great deal of time is required, and it is most desirable on every ground that the Bill should become law at the earliest possible moment. Under the circumstances I hope my hon. friend will not object to the Third reading.

*SIR F. S. POWELL (Wigan)

I desire to express my regret that the Government have not embodied in this Bill a provision for a quinquennial Census, in favour of which there is a very strong feeling in this House. I shall not repeat to-night the arguments which I placed before the House at some length upon a former occasion. On commercial grounds, in the interests of public health and of municipal government, and upon a great variety of grounds, it has become necessary to civilisation in a country like ours—where changes are so rapid and of so great moment affecting such large interests—that we should have a limited quinquennial Census. I say a limited Census, because we do not desire all the information that is given every ten years, but we do want a Census showing the number, sex, and age of the population. I hope before this debate is concluded we shall have some assurance that this matter will receive the careful consideration of the Government.

CAPTAIN SINCLAIR (Forfarshire)

I should like to associate myself most fully with the protest which has fallen from the hon. Baronet opposite, and I regret that the Government have not seen their way to adopt his suggestion.

*SIR E. DURNING-LAWRENCE (Cornwall, Truro)

I desire to say that my protest would be equally strong if I did not feel that, as certainly as I am standing here, there must be and will be a quinquennial Census.

MR. WARNER (Staffordshire, Lichfield)

I think it would be rather unusual to introduce a Bill five years beforehand.

THE SECRETARY OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. T. W. RUSSELL,) Tyrone, S.

This Bill does not prejudge the question of a quinquennial Census at all, and it will be quite open to have such a Census.

Question put, and agreed to. Bill read the Third time, and passed.