§ Mr. G. TERRELLI desire to ask you, Mr. Speaker, whether reasonable time cannot be given for hon. Members to present Amendments to the East Indian Loan Bill? The Second Reading of this Bill was taken in the early hours of this morning, and the Committee stage is the first Order for to-day. Naturally there 2251 are no Amendments on the Paper. Some of us take a deep interest in this matter, which is of great public importance, and we would like to know whether time cannot be allowed for tabling Amendments before the Report stage. I suggest that the Report stage should not be taken until after the Recess.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat question should be addressed to the Government and not to me. I do not arrange the business of the House.
§ Mr. TERRELLPerhaps I may ask the Leader of the House for an answer to the question. If the right hon. Gentleman desires me to repeat the question I will do so.
§ Mr. TERRELLWill the right hon. Gentleman take steps to delay the further stages of the East Indian Loan Bill until after the Recess? The second Reading was taken only last night, and the Committee stage is now the first Order on the Paper, and there will no time to table any Amendments. The Bill deals with £50,000,000 and is of great importance, and as there is a considerable body of opinion in the House deeply interested in it and desirous of giving it every consideration, I suggest that this should be done.
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI hope the House will not raise any objection to proceeding with this Bill. The borrowing of the money has been approved by the Indian Government, but the sanction of this House is also necessary. From time to time it is necessary, as the borrowing powers become exhausted, to introduce Bills of this character and I do not think that hitherto they have been treated as contentious by any section of the House. I am not pretending to be familiar with the details, but I under-Hand the existing borrowing powers are nearly exhausted, and I am sure it would not be the wish of the House, that the Indian Government should lose this opportunity of going into the market or that the programme of railway and irrigation development on which the prosperity of India so much depends, should be impeded in any way.
§ Mr. A. M. SAMUELIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a 2252 sum of £19,000,000 unexpended with which the Indian Government could carry on if the Bill were postponed?
§ Mr. TERRELLMay I press upon the right hon. Gentleman the great importance of giving further time for this Measure. Is he aware of the complete change which has occurred within the last few months in regard to this matter and of the decision of the Legislative Assembly as to where purchases should be made?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member is now trying to repeat the speech which he made last night.