§ The CHAIRMAN of WAYS and MEANS (Mr. Whitley)With reference to the Gas Bills standing on the Order Paper to-day, I propose to set them down for Wednesday next at 8.15 p.m., in the expectation that on that day the President of the Board of Trade will be in a position to state to the House the method in which it is proposed to deal with so much of the Bills as concern the question of statutory price. I do not anticipate that on that day any one of the Bills will be carried to a Second Reading, but I hope that it will be possible to inform the House as to the method in which that part of the Bills is to be dealt with.
§ Mr. ROWLANDSMay I ask whether that applies only to the part of the Bills with regard to the question of price, and does not deal with the other points in some of the Bills, and some of a very serious character, and of great importance to the localities—are they to go by the board?
§ Mr. WHITLEYThose Bills which contain other proposals will have to be considered separately, and hon. Members who take exception to those Bills will have their opportunity later on.
§ Sir H. HARRISIs it intended that a discussion should take place on the Second Reading of the Bills or on Wednesday next?
§ Mr. WHITLEYIf the President of the Board of Trade is in a position to make a statement to the House, of course that can be followed by a discussion if desired. It depends on hon. Members.
§ Mr. BYRNEWith reference to the last of the Bills on the Order Paper, the Alliance and Dublin Gas Bill, would it not be possible to postpone that, seeing that many Members of the Irish party with not be presens?
§ Mr. WHITLEYI do not think they need be in attendance on Wednesday next. After what I have already said, they will see that it is not proposed to take the Second Reading of that Bill on that occasion.
Brentford Gas Bill, Cannock Gas Bill, Hampton Court Gas Bill, Liverpool Gas Bill,. Longwood and Slaithwaite Gas Bill, Yeadon and Guiseley Gas Bill, Cardiff Gas Bill, Commercial Gas Bill, Gas Light and Coke Company Bill, Hastings and St. Leonard's Gas Bill, Maidenhead Gas Bill, Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Gateshead Gas Bill, Plymouth and Stonehouse Gas Bill, Portsea Island Gas Light Bill, Richmond Gas Bill, Southampton Gas Bill, South Metropolitan Gas Bill, South Shields Gas Bill, South Suburban Gas Bill, Swansea Gas Bill, York Gas Bill, Basingstoke Gas Bill (all by Order),
§ Rhymney and Aber Valleys Gas and Water Bill,
§ Alliance and Dublin Gas Bill,
§ Second Reading deferred till Wednesday next at a Quarter-past Eight of the Clock.