§ Resolved, That the subsequent stages of the War Loan Bill may be taken immediately after the Bill has been read a second time, notwithstanding the practice of the House relating to the interval between the various stages of such a Bill.—[Mr. Lloyd George.]
§ Order read for Second Reading.
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Bill be now read a second time."
§ Mr. CHAMBERLAINI need not say I do not rise to offer any opposition to the Second Reading of this Bill, but simply to express in a sentence and no more the hope that while the Chancellor of the Exchequer asks for the necessarily wide powers which he seeks to obtain by this Bill he will not postpone longer than is absolutely necessary his appeal to the House to raise supplies for the War, not merely by borrowing, but by fresh taxation. It is quite certain that in a big struggle of this kind the sooner we increase our resources from taxation the better it will be, and I should deplore any delay in appealing to the patriotism of the House and the country to vote the taxes that will be required.
§ Question put, and agreed to.
§ Resolved, pursuant to the Order of the House of this day, That this House will immediately resolve itself into Committee on the Bill.
§ Bill accordingly considered in Committee, and reported without Amendment; read the third time, and passed.