MONEY-LENDERS' BILL.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14909, 6 March 1914, Page 7

MONEY-LENDERS' BILL.

(By Cab!*.—Press Association.—Copyright.) LONDON, March 4. In the House of Lords, Lord Newton's Money-lenders' Bill was read a third time. Lord Newton, in moving the second reading of the Bill to amend the Moneylenders' Act, said if. was designed to provide legislation to prohibit money-lenders touting by circulars and using well-known names such as Curzon, Rothschild, and Harmsworth. The money-lending fraternity, he said, pestered clergymen, Government officials, and profassional men, offering to lend fabulous sums at five por cent. They also quoted from false testimonials. One such purported to be from a peer, addressing the moneylender as "dear old boy," and asking him to let him have notes for '£500 by the morning. Moneylenders even wrote to boys at Eton. Thoy were not merely a nuisance, but a real danger, their business offering opportunities to blackmail clients. REDISTRIBUTiON OF SEATS. (Received March sth, 11 p.m.) LONDON, March 5. The House of Commons agreed to Mr Edgar Jones's motion to appoint a select committee to consider the question of redistribution of seats. Mr Long appealed to the Government to institute an independent enquiry. Mr Samuel said the Government was willing to appoint a Minister on the committee if the Opposition would make a joint* effort to formulate a fair scheme. They hoped to settle* the redistribution question before the general election of 1916, if Parliament ran its normal course. x