§ 10.5 p.m.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations (Mr. Gordon-Walker)I beg to move,
That an humble address be presented to Hi, Majesty in pursuance of the provisions of
§ appoint a fit and sufficient person to record the proceedings before the second court and also for the appointment of an additional crier for the second court. The second and third amendments in this group give the necessary powers to enable such officers to be appointed for each additional court. Several times during the course of today's discussion we have heard of the difficulties that now confront courts of quarter sessions owing to the very long calendars in front of them. This is a practical way of enabling courts, where cases are very heavy, to deal with the situation that confronts them.
§ Amendment agreed to.
§ Mr. EdeI beg to move, in page 78, line 10, at the end, to insert:
Section 309 of the Government of India Act, 1935, praying that the Government of India (Family Pension Funds) (Amendment) Order, 1948, be made in the form of the draft laid before Parliament.This is a brief and simple Order which concerns what is called the transferred section of the India Family Pension Funds. This section arose in 1937, when certain balances were transferred to the United Kingdom from India. The problem has arisen that with falling rates of interest, it is found impossible to make investments to maintain the income of the funds. The purpose of the Order is to empower the Commissioners to purchase freehold ground rents in England and Wales. That is an additional power to those now possessed.
§ Debate adjourned.—[Mr. Gordon-Walker.]
§ To be resumed upon Tuesday next.