§ Order read, for resuming adjourned debate on Question [7th April], "That the Bill be now read a second time."
§ Question again proposed.
§ MR. CALDWELL (Lanarkshire, Mid)complained of the manner in which the Government tried to force this Bill through on every occasion when they had a few minutes to spare. This was not the first occasion on which it had been attempted to be done, and, considering the few Scotch Bills which were brought before the House, he thought it was most unfair. Of course, if it was brought forward because the Government wished to fill up five minutes by talking upon the Bill, that could be done, but it was not the way to get through the business of the House. This Bill proposed to make a very important change in one of the principal Clauses of the Local Government Act for Scotland. It was a most difficult thing to remember the particulars of all these Bills when one was called upon to discuss them without notice, but there were two sections of the Local Government Act which it was proposed to alter by this Bill. The Local Government Act dealt with certain grants which were to be given to the lunatic asylums, and there was another grant which he believed was a medical grant. The medical grant was £20,000, and that for the lunatic 430 asylum was about £90,000. These grants wore given under the Local Government Act, and were provided cut of the probate duty. Certain suites were allocated to England, Ireland, and Scotland, and the section which this Bill sought to amend had reference to the portion of this probate money which was allocated to Scotland. A similar Bill for England had already dealt with the English money.
§ It being half-past Seven of the clock, the debate stood adjourned. Debate to be resumed this evening.