§ Considered in Committee.
§ (In the Committee.)
§ MR. Grant Lawson (Yorkshire, N. R., Thirsk)in the Chair.
§ MR. HUMPHREYS-OWENmoved to report progress.
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINsaid be would appeal to the Committee not to object to the progress of the Bill. It was an unopposed measure, and had passed through a Hybrid Committee with only a Single Amendment, which he himself moved in response to a pledge he had given in the House. Its only object was to secure two sites for post office premises, one in Dulwich, and the other in the neighbourhood of Oxford Street. The latter was urgently needed' not only for ordinary postal purposes, but also for the post-office telephone service; and on its early acquisition depended their power to bring the post-office telephone system into operation in that part of London. It would cause very great inconvenience to many business houses if it were delayed, and he hoped that after the explanation he had given the Bill would be allowed to go through.
1040 Clauses 1 to 6 were agreed to without Amendment.
Clause 7:—
§ MR. CALDWELL (Lanark, Mid)said he would not object if it were understood that the clause would not be regarded as a precedent.
Clause agreed to.
Bill reported, without Amendments.
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINsaid he would appeal to the House to allow the Bill to be read a third time.
§ MR. FLAVIN (Kerry, N.)said that one stage ought to satisfy the hon. Gentleman.
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINsaid that of course he could not press his Motion if the hon. Gentleman objected; but it was a matter of great public convenience.
§ MR. FLAVINsaid that in the circumstances he would not object.
Bill read the third time, and passed.