§ LORD AVEBURYMy Lords, I beg to present a petition signed by, I am informed, two thousand bankers and 1331 merchants, chairmen of railway companies and insurance companies, and a large number of members of Lloyd's; and the prayer is that, in view of the statement of facts which they make, your honourable House should postpone the consideration of the Old-Age Pensions Bill until such time as the Report of the Commission on the Poor Law has been issued, and until an opportunity has been given to Parliament to consider the said Bill in the light of that Report. They add that, by refusing to proceed beyond the Second Reading of the Bill until such Report has been received, your Lordships will give proof that you are determined not to acquiesce in legislative measures which are not based on the fullest information and the best advice obtainable.
§ Petition presented and ordered to lie upon the Table.