§ MR. CAINEI beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that there has been a sum of about £10,000 lying without interest at the Bank of England to the credit of the Scinde, Punjab, and Delhi Railway for the last twenty years; that in 1886 this undertaking was vested in the Government of India; that section 54 of the Act provided for the eventual dissolution of the Company; that this clause has been inoperative, the Company, though still in existence, being without direction, the last surviving director having died; and that this deposit represents various sums distributable, under Section 53 of the Act, between stockholders of the Company to parties who cannot be traced; and will he, therefore, to prevent this sum becoming the property of the Bank of England, either introduce a Bill, or put a clause in some convenient Bill, causing this money to be paid over to the Paymaster General, subject to any claims which may be substantiated.
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Sir M. HICKS BEACH,) Bristol, W.I cannot, as at present advised, undertake to propose legislation on this subject. The money cannot, as is suggested in the question, become the property of the Bank of England. The 1269 Bank may at any time be called upon to disburse the balance in their hands. All claims which are substantiated are paid, and a payment was made as recently as January last.
§ MR. CAINEBut is it not the fact that this money has been there twenty years? Is this to go on for ever?
§ SIR M. HICKS BEACHThe money will remain until it is claimed. It is no business of mine.