The Sun.
London, England, 1848-08-31 00:00:00

SAVINGS•BANKS BILL.

On the motion that the report be received,
Sir H. WILLOUGHBY said he did not intend to op-
pose the bringing up of the report, but wished to remind
the House that a petition had been that day presented
against the Bill by a number of gentlemen who repre-
sented sixteen savings-banks, 175,561 depositors, and a
capital amounting to 7,041,0031.; this, added to a former
petition, represented one-third of the entire savings'
banks of the kingdom. These gentlemen did not object
to an audit, however rigid it might be; but they com-
plained that the Bill would impose upon them regula-
tions which would be wholly impracticable. The objec-
tions they urged were, he believed, shared in by a Noble
Colleague of the Right Hon. Gentleman. The President
of the Council happened to be a manager of one of the
London savings-banks, and possessed great practical
knowledge of the whole subject. He (Sir H. Willoughby)
hoped the Chancellor of the Exchequer would confer
with that Noble Lord before he moved the third read-
ing of the Bill. The Hon. Baronet concluded by sug-
gesting certain amendments in clauses 3 and 6.
Mr. HENLEY hoped the Right Hon. Gentleman
would consent to limit the operation of the fifth clause,
which required the production of the books of such de-
positors as should have received previous notice. It
would be a great hardship, and against all principle, that
parties who had deposited their money upon the faith of
certain terms should be subjected to other and more
stringent conditions without their having any previous
notiz,.e. If the Chancellor of the Exchequer would agree
to this amendment it would in some measure mitigate his
objection to the Bill.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER was
always disposed to consider any suggestions coming from
the Hon. Gentleman, being, as they almost invariably
working,
r foeact i c a as 1
respected
were, recommended by their practical character, and
itB p
often by their valuable tendency.—(Hear, hear.) He
certainly would take into consideration the amendments
suggested both by the lion. Gentleman and the Hon.
Baronet, and he felt obliged for their having postponed
pressing them upon the House till the third reading of
the Bill.
Mr. SPOONER said the Bill would be attended with
aanlmdocsotnisnisduepreedraibtleto difficulties in
hol uncalledin
the savings' banks in England.
Colonel WODELIOUSE was also opposed to the
measure.
Mr. DUNCAN considered the Bill to be unnecessary
as far as Scotland was concerned, and
hoped that, at all
events, that part of the kingdom would be exempted
from its operation.
Mr. SCROPE supported the Bill.
Lord G. BENTINCK said he had seen the secretary
to the MaryleboneSavings'Bank, who informed him that
a great hardship would be wrought by the clause re-
quiring the depositors to produce their books. There
were belonging to that bank 8,700 depositors, about 70
or 80 per cent. of whom claimed a dividend annually, so
that their books were of course produced. But the
other 20 or 30 per cent., being servants, generally left
their money for the whole period of their service, and if
they were obliged to produe their books once a year it
would not only be productive of great inconvenience
and annoyance, but would also put them to considerable
expense, and would greatly discourage the investing of
their savings in these banks. He trusted the Right
Hon. Gentleinan would reconsider this part of his
proposition. There was much reason to fear that
clergymen and tradesmen would refuse to sign their
names as security for 1001., and if they did, and the poor
saw the names of these individuals withdrawn, great
alarm would be caused in consequence, and many might
withdraw their accounts.—(Hear, hear.) He wished to
take another opportunity of protesting against the prac-
tice of sitting so many consecutive hours, to which he
said a great deal of hasty and slovenly legislation was. to
' be attributed. He, like many other Members, occa-
sionally felt so exhausted, that he was obliged to recruit
himself by a nap. There is another set of gentlemen
(continued the Noble Lord), whose talents are worthy
of all admiration, and whose endurance was equal to
their talent, who are also so entirely worn out that no
reports of our proceedings go forth. These gentlemen
must bo iron to do as they have done—(A cry of "Hear,

hear")—and they must be almost immortal to sit there
reporting our proceedings from twelve o'clock on one
day to half-past three o'clock the next morning.—([lear,
hear.) lie hoped the Chancellor of the Exchequer
would be so good as to leave England and Scotland out
of the Bill.

Tha report was theta received, and the Bill, with
amendments, was ordered to be read a third time to
morrow (this day).
.-.

The Poor-law- Auditors' Proceedings Restriction Bill
was read a second time.

The report on the Consolidated Fund Bill was re••
ceived.

Sir H. WILLOUGHBY wished to knuw whether any,
power was given to the Treasury to vary the appropria-
tion of money appropriated by previous clauses.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the
Treasury could exercise such a power under certain re-
atrictionc

Mr. HENLEY wished to know whether any change
made in the appropriation appeared in any account
afterwards laid before Parliament?

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that
an account of any excess or deficiency in the army,
navy, and ordnance votes were shown in an account
annually presented to Parliament.
The Slave Trade (Muscat) Bill was read a third time
and passed. _ _ _

The Lords' amendments to the Poor-law Union
Charges Bill were considered and agreed to.
The House then adjourned at Half-past Nine o'clock.

PARLIAMENTARY DIVISIONS.

(From the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Coninions,)
WZDNESDAY, AUG. 30.
COPPER AND LEAD DUTIES BILL.
(IN THE COMMITTEE.)
('ehedule) t —Amendment proposed, to amend the Table,
by inserting " Copper, Ore of, per ton, if imported from any
Foreign Possession, 11. is.:"—Question put, "That these
words be inserted in the Table." The Committee divided :
MINORITY—AYES, 19.
Anstey, Thomas C. Keogh, William Vyse, H.
Bentinck, Lord G. Knox, Colonel Willoughby, Sir H.
Blackstone, W. S. Lacy, H. C. Wodehouse, E.
Drummondllienry Lowther, Colonel
Dunne, F. Y. Newdegate, N. TELLIES.
Hamilton, G. A. Robinson, G. R. Henley, J. W.
Herbert, H. A. Sidney, Alderman Wyld, James
Hood, Sir A. Vivian, J. E.