§ Considered in Committee:—
§ (In the Committee.)
§ [Mr. J. W. LOWTHER (Cumberland, Penrith) in the Chair.]
§ Clause 1:—
§ MR. HERBERT LEWIS (Flint Boroughs)said that a quarter past two in the morning on the last day but one of the session was not a proper opportunity to discuss a proposal of this magnitude authorising the expenditure of £27,000,000. They had been appealed to by the Chancellor of the Exchequer upon the score of economy, but he was afraid that they were now spending their money very recklessly. He was in favour of doing everything that could possibly be done to strengthen the fleet, and to defences of a maritime character he raised no objection. But he wished to point out that in regard to Naval works in the past there had been a very great amount of extravagance. They were now practically giving the Government a vote of credit amounting to several millions of money, and as to the way that money was going to be spent they knew nothing at all. A number of hon. Gentlemen interested in this 1098 matter were not in attendance, and at this time of the morning he would content himself by merely making his protest against bringing a Bill of this mognitude forward so late in the session, and in future when a Bill of this character was introduced he hoped it would be brought in earlier.
§ Clause agreed to.
§ Other clauses and schedule agreed to.
§ Bill reported, without amendment; to be read the third time to-morrow.