that from one-third to one-half is rendered necessary by the adoption of these clauses. Last session a Bill came under my notice the cost of which was £3,000, and of that sum at least £1,000, and probably more, was due to the necessity of providing these police and sanitary clauses. Bill of 290 clauses. The proposal of the noble Earl would, no doubt, be a distinct saving of money to the ratepayers, and if it were carried out other parts of England would be able to share in the blessings of the reduction in rates which we are promised in London. It would also save a great deal of time and trouble on the part of Parliament and especially on the part of the Lord Chairman himself. The noble Earl acknowledged that the question was not absolutely free from difficulty, and he mentioned a Bill which was brought forward in the House of Commons last year. I have asked in my Question whether His Majesty's Government do not consider that the time has arrived for the extension of the Public Health Act. I am not going to lay myself open to the reply which it is likely I should receive, that the Government have a very large I have no doubt he referred to Sir number of measures to bring before Parliament and are unable for want of time to add to that number. I would venture to ask whether, if a Bill for the purpose is brought in by a private member, either in your Lordships' House or in the House of Commons, the Government will do what they can to assist its reference to a Joint Committee of the two Houses, consisting of those who have been accustomed to deal with what are known as police and sanitary clauses. There are Chairmen of Committees in your Lordships' House and gentlemen in the House of Commons who are eminently qualified to deal with this subject. I venture to think that a Bill of this kind, affecting as it does public health and public convenience, and affecting the expenditure of local bodies, now reaching a limit which ought not to be exceeded, would be absolutely non-contentious; and having passed the scrutiny of such a Committee I think it might become law without much discussion, and it would be a great boon to a large number of local authorities who at this moment are obliged to incur the heavy expenditure to which I have referred. THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES (Earl CARRINGTON): My Lords, the noble Lord has stated his case with such clearness and conciseness, and with such an amount of practical knowledge, that it will hardly be necessary for me to detain the House for more than a few moments in replying. As the noble Earl correctly observed, one public Act would obviate the necessity for the promotion of a large number of private Bills by local authorities; and he certainly startled the House by the production of the enormous James Woodhouse's Bill. That Bill consisted of 101 clauses and dealt with a great variety of matters, including streets, buildings, sewers, infectious diseases, milk, common lodging houses, and recreation grounds. Therefore I think the House will agree that before making clauses in local Acts part of the general law, it is necessary that very careful consideration should be given to them to see how far they can be regarded as proper for general application. I do not think my right hon. friend the President of the Local Government Board will put forward any excuse founded on the congestion of public business for not assisting a Bill dealing with this matter, for he quite realises the necessity of giving additional powers to local authorities. My right hon. friend requests me to say that he has a very warm sympathy with the object the noble Earl has in view, but at present he is unable to give any direct pledge on the subject, though he is giving it careful consideration with a view to action being taken. I hope this reply will not be altogether unsatisfactory to the noble Earl. THE EARL OF ONSLOW: I understand the noble Lord to say that the President of the Local Government Board can give no pledge with regard to bringing in a measure. But that was not the question I asked. My question was whether, if a measure were brought in, His Majesty's Government would give it their sympathy and do what they could to get it referred to a Joint Committee with a view to getting it through Parliament this session. EARL CARRINGTON: That is a question which, individually, I am not able to answer. HOUSE OF LORDS (REFORM) BILL [H.L.] | enable her to marry again; and for other LORD COURTNEY OF PENWITH: purposes." [Fitz Gerald's Divorce Bill My Lords, I should like to ask the [Lords.] noble Lord opposite, Lord Newton, when he proposes to move the Second Reading of his Bill for the reform of the House. The Second Reading is appointed for the 12th inst., and it would be convenient if the noble Lord would say whether he intends to take it on that day. LORD NEWTON: My Lords, as far as I am concerned, I should prefer to proceed with the least possible delay, but I am extremely anxious to cause as little irritation as possible, and it has been mentioned to me by influential Members of the House that it would be inconvenient to take the Bill so soon. I therefore proposed to put it down after Easter, towards the end of April. House adjourned at a quarter HOUSE OF COMMONS. PRIVATE BILL BUSINESS. PRIVATE BILLS (STANDING ORDER 63 Mr. SPEAKER laid upon the Table Report from one of the Examiners of Petitions for Private Bills, That, in the case of the following Bill, referred on the First Reading thereof, Standing Order 63 has been complied with, viz. :—Grays and Tilbury Gas Bill. Ordered, That the Bill be read a second time. PRIVATE BILLS (STANDING ORDERS Mr. SPEAKER laid upon the Table Report from the Examiners of Petition for Private Bills, That, in the case of the following Bill, introduced pursuant to the provisions of The Private Legislation Procedure (Scotland) Act, 1899, the Standing Orders which are applicable thereto have been complied with, viz. : The House met at a quarter before Leith Harbour and Docks Bill. Three of the Clock. MESSAGE FROM THE LORDS. That they have passed a Bill, intituled, "An Act to amend the Law relating to to the Reservation, for His Majesty's pleasure, of Bills passed by the Legislatures of the States forming part of the Commonwealth of Australia and to confirm certain Acts passed by those Legislatures." [Australian States Constitution Bill [Lords.] Also, a Bill, intituled, "An Act to dissolve the marriage of Charles Edward Galwey, a Captain in the Royal Irish Regiment, with Annie Louisa Galwey, his now wife, and to enable him to marry again; and for other purposes." [Galwey's Divorce Bill [Lords.] And, also a Bill, intituled, " An Act to dissolve the marriage of Lida Eleanor Purcell Fitz Gerald with Gerald Purcell Fitz Gerald, her present husband, and to PRIVATE BILLS [LORDS] (STANDING Mr SPEAKER laid upon the Table Report from the Examiners of Petitions for Private Bills, That, in respect of the following Bills, introduced pursuant to the provisions of The Private Legislation Procedure (Scotland) Act, 1899, and which the Chairman of Ways and Means had directed to originate in the House of Lords, they have certified that the Standing Orders have been complied Life Assurance Corporation, Limited; with, viz. -General Accident, Fire and Renfrewshire Upper District (Eastwood and Mearns) Water; Royal Bank of Scotland; Glasgow Corporation; Aberdeen Corporation; Electric Supply Corporation (No. 2). : PRIVATE BILLS (STANDING ORDER 66 Petitions for Private Bills, That, in the case of the following Bill, referred on the First Reading thereof, Standing Order 66 has not been complied with, viz-Channel Tunnel Railway Bill. Ordered, That the Report be referred to the Select Committee on Standing Orders. Alexandra (Newport and South Wales) Docks and Railway (General Powers) Bill." To empower the Alexandra (Newport and South Wales) Docks and Railway Company to construct new railways in the County of Monmouth, and to authorise the company to raise additional capital; and for other purposes," presented, and read the first time; and referred to the Examiners of Petitions for Private Bills. Boston Spa Gas Bill.-" To incorporate and confer powers upon the Boston Spa Gas Company," presented, and read the first time; and referred to the Examiners of Petitions for Private Bills. Galwey's Divorce Bill [Lords]; Fitz Gerald's Divorce Bill [Lords].-Read the first time; to be read a second time. PETITIONS. COAL MINES (EIGHT HOURS) BILL. Petitions in favour from Aldwarke; Brayton Knowe; Halesowen; Hill and Cakemore; Lye; Moresby; Rockingham Soothill Wood; Two Gates; and, West Kiveton Collieries; to lie upon the Table. WEIGHTS AND MEASURES (METRIC RETURNS, REPORTS, ETC. COLONIAL CONFERENCE, 1907. Copy presented, of correspondence relating to the Colonial Conference, 1907 [by Command]; to lie upon the Table. AUSTRALIA. Copy presented, of the Customs Tariff (British Preference), 1993, Reserved Act, with a Despatch from the Secretary of State thereon [by Command]; to lie upon the Table. PUBLIC HEALTH (REGULATIONS AS TO Copy ordered," of Enactments referred to in the Bill.”—(Mr. Burns.) Copy presented accordingly; to lie upon the Table, and to be printed. [No. 70.] SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE (IRELAND). Copy ordered, "of Account of receipts and payments of the Accountant-General of the Supreme Court of Judicature in Ireland in respect of funds of suitors in the said Court, including therein funds to the credit of lunacy accounts in the year to the 30th day of September, 1906, together with a statement of liabilities and assets and particulars of securities in Court on the 30th day of September, 1906." (Mr. Runciman.) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS CIRCULATED WITH THE VOTES. Volunteer Officers' Liabilities. MR. COCHRANE (Ayrshire, N.): To ask the Secretary of State for War if Volunteer officers have incurred on behalf of their battalions any liabilities in adPetition from Walsall, against; to lie dition to those mentioned in the Suppleupon the Table. WOMEN'S ENFRANCHISEMENT BILL. Petitions in favour-from Gravesend and Northfleet; and Isle of Wight; to lie upon the Table. mentary Estimates; and, if so, what scheme he proposes to meet these liabilities. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) The Public Works Loan Board mortgages represent only the indebtedness of those a good deal of preliminary work accomplished before the close of the financial year, and provision has been made for some expenditure. Submarines and the Hague Conference. MR. L. HASLAM (Monmouth Boroughs): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will consider the desirability of placing before the Hague Conference, with the view of limiting danger to life during times of peace and of expense of armaments, the question whether the use of submarines should be discontinued. (Answered by Sir Edward Grey.) It would not be reasonable to expect the Powers at the Hague Conference to entertain such a proposal. Old Age Pensions Commission. MR. L. HASLAM: To ask the UnderSecretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the introduction of measures dealing with the subject of old age pensions, he will lay upon the Table of the House the Report of the Old Age Pensions Commission, which forms a portion of C.O. 13,921, received 21st April, 1906, in which the systems in practice in Australia and New Zealand are fully described and unanimous recommendations made. Church congregation in Leith, who are compelled to worship in and pay rent for a hall which is very unsuitable for their requirements, while there are seven old Free Churches in the hands of the United Free Church, the minister of one of which has expressed his willingness to resign; and will he say what action he proposes to take in the matter. (Answered by Mr. Thomas Shaw.) I have no right to take action in regard to the matters referred to in the inquiry, and I am not to be held as assenting to the accuracy of the representations made in the earlier portion of the Question. Absinthe. MR. A. C. CORBETT (Glasgow, Tradeston): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he proposes to take any steps for the protection of this country from the increased importation of absinthe which may follow the prohibition of its manufacture and sale in Belgium and the Canton de Vaud in Switzerland, and the efforts which are now being made for similar legislation in France. (Answered by Mr. Secretary Gladstone.) I confess I am unable to see why the prohibition of the manufacture of absinthe in certain foreign countries should involve any danger of increase in the importation (Answered by Mr. Churchill.) Yes, of that liquor into this country. Sir, the Report will be laid. Free Church of Scotland General Assembly. MR. REMNANT (Finsbury, Holborn): To ask the Lord Advocate what provision is being made for a place of meeting for the general assembly of the Free Church of Scotland. (Answered by Mr. Thomas Shaw.) This inquiry should be addressed to the Secretary of the Church Commission. That Commission is vested with full statutory power in the allocation of property formerly belonging to the Free Church. South Leith Free Church. Local Government Expenditure. MR. R. PEARCE (Staffordshire, Leek): To ask the President of the Local Government Board what were the amounts provided in the United Kingdom in each of the years 1905 and 1906, by rates, or expended out of them, for education, Poor Law administration, registration of voters, and main roads, distinguishing the amounts for England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland, for each of those purposes in each of those years; and what were the gross estimated rentals and rateable values upon which such rates were levied. (Answered by Mr. John Burns.) As regards Scotland and Ireland I must refer my hon. friend to the Secretary for Scotland and the Chief Secretary to the Lord |