§ Mr. FIELDasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that Consols and Canadian Pacifies stood at 114 and 48 respectively in 1897, as against 81¾ and 233 at the present time; that gilt-edged and other securities and the Banks of England and Ireland shares show a heavy depreciation since 1897 in comparison to those of joint-stock banks; if so, and considering that the latter securities as well as Canadian Pacifies are respectively protected against gambling bear operations by Leeman's Joint Stock Bank Act of 1867 and by Canada's Criminal Code Act of 1892, will he inquire into the workings of these two protective legislative measures to ascertain whether these have been in any way responsible for the differences in the range of values of the various stated securities since 1897?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEI am unable to adopt the hon. Member's suggestion.