On Monday last, the time of the House was chiefly
occupied in discussing the extent of the borrowing powers to be con- ferred upon the County Councils, and in debating whether those bodies should be allowed to raise money to assist emi- gration, as proposed by the Bill. Lord Lymington, in urging his amendment, which withdraws from the Bill the powers of lending to local authorities within their own areas, originally proposed to be given to the County Councils, Pointed out the enormous growth of local indebtedness in England—a growth three times as rapid as that of the population. After a considerable amount of debate, the House, wisely as we think, decided, by 173 to 93, to adopt Lord Lymington's amendment. The emigration dis- cussion raised by Mr. Bartley,, the Conservative Member for North Islington, who objected to the powers granted by the Bill, we have dealt with elsewhere. An amendment was next moved by Mr. Ritchie limiting the borrowing powers of the Council to one-tenth of the annual rateable value of the rate-
able property of the county, which was agreed to without delay. A discussion, however, took place as to whether the period for the repayment of loans should be thirty or sixty years. Finally, thirty was fixed upon by 253 to 136, though not with- out a protest from Mr. Jesse Collings.
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