§ Considered in Committee.
§ (In the Committee.)
§ [Mr. J. W. LOWTHER (Cumberland, Penrith) in the Chair.]
§ On Clause 1:—
§ MR. BRYCEappealed to the President of the Local Government Board not to proceed with the Bill. Several Members who were greatly interested in the measure, and had placed Amendments on the Paper, not supposing the Port of London Bill would have been disposed of so early, had left the House. It would be hardly courteous to press in the remaining twelve minutes an important Bill with which no substantial progress could be made, and he hoped the right hon. Gentleman would agree to report Progress.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. WALTER LONG, Bristol, S.)said he had no desire to do anything discourteous to hon. Members opposite, but he was bound to point out that the Amendments to which the right hon. Gentleman had referred were apparently conceived in entire ignorance of the law under the 1902 Act, and of the purpose of the present Bill, As it was impossible for those Amendments to be inserted, he had thought they might very fairly 620 proceed with the Bill. It was very important that it should be passed; local authorities were pressing for it, and many of them were now making their estimates for the coming year, and, unless this Bill were passed, would have to raise a heavier rate than would otherwise be necessary. However, if the right hon. Gentleman pressed his objection it would be only a waste of time to persist in going on.
§ Committee report Progress; to sit again upon Monday next.
§ And, there being no further business set down for the Afternoon Sitting, Mr. Speaker left the Chair till this Evening's Sitting.