When the financial resolution required for the Ministry of Health
Bill came before the House of Commons on Monday, Sir Donald Maclean commented on the alarming increase in the rates, which had gone up by 73 per cent, in two years, and urged that the probable effect of this Bill in raising the rates still higher should be estimated. As Sir Donald Maclean expressed the general feeling of the House and the country, Mr. Boner Law made a conciliatory reply. He apologized for introducing so complex a Bill, and announced that the Government would leave the Select Committee free to deal with most of the clauses as It thought fit. Mr. Boner Law anticipated the Opposition comment that the Government were climbing down. A Ministry with so large a majority could well afford to pay atten- tion to the views of the House. We may remark that the pernicious doctrine that every Government Bill or resolution should be accepted literally is a modern growth. Pitt, for instance, was repeatedly defeated on important Bills and motions, but he did not feel called upon to resign.
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