§ Order for Second Reading read.
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."
§ Mr. ROSBOTHAMThis is a Bill to give local authorities power to lend money for the erection of tanks for the 839 cleansing of shell-fish. We have very valuable beds of mussels on the banks of several of our rivers, in particular the River Ribble. I am told by fishermen that they are worth several thousand pounds. Owing to Public Health Orders these beds of mussels are now closed as far as gathering mussels for human consumption is concerned. These tanks provide a very simple method of cleansing. The Ministry of Health have conducted experiments over several years, and those experiments have proved very successful. The cleansing process is a very simple one; in 48 hours the mussels cleanse themselves in fresh water. This Bill will find employment for a large number of fishermen, and now that we have a 10 per cent. duty on foreign mussels it is all the more important that this Bill should be passed.