§ MR. RITCHIE (Croydon)To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to a Bill promoted by the Crystal Palace District Gas Company; and whether, having regard to the expense to which the local authorities were put last session in connection with a similar Bill, and to the fact that a Departmental Committee of the Board has been appointed to investigate the questions dealt with in the Bill, he proposes to object to it being allowed to proceed this session.
(Answered by Mr. Gerald Balfour.) I have intimated to the promoters that, if the Bill is proceeded with before the Departmental Committee have made their Report, I shall move an instruction to the Committee of this House to omit the clauses relating to illuminating power, power testing, and price of gas.