HC Deb 07 March 1902 vol 104 cc705-6

Order for Second Reading read.

SIR EDWARD STRACHEY (Somersetshire, S.)

inquired whether there was any real intention of proceeding with the Bill on Friday. The repeated postponements were very inconvenient to Members who came down expecting the Bill to be gone on with.

MR. CALDWELL (Lanarkshire, Mid)

said the intention was to proceed with this Bill next Friday. The delay was entirely due to the action of the Local Government Board.

MR. JOHN BURNS (Battersea)

said the hon. Members whose names were on the back of the Bill had taken every possible step in their power to secure the attendance of hon. Gentlemen on both sides of the House, and but for the intervention of the "powers that be" the debate would have taken place that day.

Second Reading deferred till Friday next.