§ The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER (Mr. Lloyd George)I beg to move, "That leave be given to introduce a Bill to amend the Currency and Bank Notes Act, 1914."
24 The main object is to give the Treasury power to call in the existing currency notes, which were prepared in haste and which may be easily forged, and to substitute a new and, I hope, very much better note. It is proposed also to take power, instead of actually issuing notes to bankers, to issue a certificate so as to give the bankers the benefit of the State credit without actually taking out the notes. That would undoubtedly be a great advantage in assisting them to finance trade. There are only the two Clauses.
§ Question put, and agreed to.
§ Bill ordered to be brought in by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Attorney-General, and Mr. Montagu. Presented accordingly and read the first time; to be read a second time To-morrow and to be printed. [Bill 379.]