Welsh Newspapers

Search 15 million Welsh newspaper articles

Hide Articles List

8 articles on this Page

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

News
Cite
Share

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. In the House of Commons, on Wednesday, Sir G. Mont- gomery took the oaths and his seat on his re-election for Peebles shire. The Public Libraries Act Amendment Bill was taken in committee, and passed through that stage. On the second reading of the Landlord and Tenant (Ire- land) Bill, Mr. Gregory stated that it was not intended to proceed with it, but observed that its object, which was to establish a system of long leases and to do away with tenancy at will, should be considered in the recess. Mr. C. Fortescue, on the motion for the resumption of the adjourned debate on the Tenure and Improvement of Land (Ireland) Bill, stated that as the present Government had of course declined to take it up, it had been determined to withdraw it, though he believed that sooner or later its principles would be adopted by the legislature. Lord Naas having declined to adopt the principle of the bill on any future occasion, Mr. Gladstone urged tfaat it was founded on a principle of compensation and tenant-right which was established in England both by law and custom. After a retrospective discussion of some length the bill was withdrawn. The Inland Revenue Bill was read a third time and passed; as were the colonial Branch Mints Bill, and the Tramways (Ireland) Acts Amendment Bill. The other orders were gone through, and the House ad- journed shortly before six o'clock. In the House of Lords, on Thursday, in answer to the Earl of Shaftesbury, The Earl of Derby stated the circumstances of the recent proceedings between Mr. Walpole and the Reform League, which were also given by the right hon. gentleman himself in the House of Commons. The British Columbia. Bill and several others were read a second time; while a number of other bills were advanced a rriare. Tilt: House adjourned at a quarter to seven o'clock. In the House of Commons, at a. morning sitting, on going into committee of supply, Mr. Seeley called attention to the general administration and accounts of her Majesty's dockyards, and moved that the course pursued in paving the roadways, workshops, and other places in the dockyards with iron ballast was inex- pedient; that anchors are provided for the use of her Majesty's navy without a due regard to economy; and that the manner in which the affairs of the dockyards have been managed in these and other respects ren- ders it desirable that the superintendents should be possessed of a practical knowledge of the business carried on therein, and that it is also desirable that their term of office should not be limited to a period of five years. The hon. member went through, in a most minute and .searching manner, a series of details, showing that the Admiralty accounts were most unreliable, and gave no true information with regard to expenditure but if they proved anything, it was that our ships of war were built and repaired at an ex- eeSSlve cost. Sir J. Pakington stated that his recent accession to office prevented his being capable of giving satisfactory explana- tions on the points of detail raised; and he expressed a hope that Mr. Chiiders, who was doubtless fully informed, would do so; but he admitted that if some of the statements were correct, it was plain that there was something wrong, and the subject demanded attention, especially the cost of re- pairs. After a discussion, the motions were withdrawn, and the sitting was suspended. At the evening sitting, Mr. Osborne said, in reference to a meeting which was advertised to take place in Hyde-park on Monday, he wished to ask Mr. Walpole what were his relations with the Reform League, and what steps he had taken to preserve the public peace. L' _L L' Mr. Walpole saia tnose relations were simpiy tnose De. tween a Secretary of State and a deputation. In regard to whether any meeting was to take place, he could show that a most extraordinary misconception had occurred. On a recent occasion he stated to the deputation that as the main, if not the only, cause of the disturbaneea in the park was an,allegel right of the public to meet there, her Majesty's Government would give every faeility to determine the question, and nothing would be done to interfere with the decision of that question. It was then stated that if demonstrations of force ceased no further disturbances would take place; and he replied that it the peoxjle were in- duced to retire the police would be withdrawn. An under- taking was given that all that could be done would be done to bring about a cessation of the rioting. Afterwards two or three of the deputation returned and asked if her Majesty's Government would allow a meeting on the subject of Reform to take place in Hyde-park on Monday evening. To this he responded that such an application must be made in writing, and a reply returned in writing.. Placards were issued asserting that by leave of her Majesty's Government the meeting would take place. This was a most extra- ordinary perversion of the fact, for the formal letter of application by Mr. Beales only reached him at six o'clock on Wednesday. and the placards must have been prepared before that hour. His answer "placards were issued. A member of the League, I Mr. Holyoake, went to the Home-office that afternoon, and in the strongest terms repudiated Mr. Beales' proclamation; that he perfectly understood the prohibition in regard to. the meeting, and that it had been laiA down that an appli- cation on the subject must be in writing. He (Mr. Walpole) had written a reply to Mr. Beales' letter, distinctly refusing permission of any assemblage in Hyde-park; though every facility would fee given for a meeting at Primrose-hill. Her Majesty's Government could not but believe that there must be a disposition on the part of the public to aid the executive in preserving peace and order. Mr. S. Mill said that he had just had an interview with Mr. Beales and some of the League, who stated that as far as they were concerned they regretted that a misunderstand- ing had occurred, which did not originate with Mr. Walpole. That being so, the same motives which influenced them in preventing bloodshed on the previous evening would pre- vent them from taking advantage of the misunderstanding, and nothing would be done further to endanger the public peace. On going into committee of supply, Major Jervis moved for a commission to inquire into the condition of the railways of this country as regards their ability to fulfil their engagements to the public, having due regard to the interests of all parties concerned. The motion having been considered by several members, was withdrawn. In committee of supply, The Chancellor of the Exchequer moved a supplementary estimate of R4,970, for a supply of gun metal for the Prince Consort Memorial; and stated that it was only a carrying out of an undertaking made by the late Lord Palmerston, which was agreed to. Mr. Lowe moved the balance of the estimate of £102,744., which showed an increase over that of last year— £ 98,164. He stated that many valuable additions had been made to the collection by purchase and donation; but the evil of want of space not only was not abated, but greatly increased. The vote was then agreed to, aa were also a number of 0tTneVosher business was gone through, and the House adjourned shortly after two o clock. r Tim,oo nf T.nrds. on Friday, the Earl of Shaftes- In the House of Loras^ ° of the working classes to bury, in refeienct metropolis, said that he enter- meet m public places an address to the Crown, tained the design of m be set apart in the metro- praying that special areas sb0 held- polis where public; meetingsim 0 latetllis session to move The Earl ot Derby said it was to^wbinh his entir0 an address, but the project w leg-al question, of the approval; and in the event being decided in exclusive right of the'Crown to tne p meet wit!l his im- favour of the Crown, the subject o mediate attention. and A long list of bills were a-l vanoea a stag 0<ci0ck. The House adjourned at 10 minutes past sev „,™-nin2 sitting, on the In the House of Commons, at a morn g report of supply, 0f gun-metal for Mr. Monk, on the item for the piit-olia'Se K that after the memorial to the late Prince Consor > ioua night it the statement of the Government on t.ao y* the vote was not possible to do otherwise than g_.e before but if he had heard the statement of Mr. ingt the vote was taken he should have divided tne ifc'The Chancellor of the Exchequer said that themetal been promised by Lord Palmerston, and he adhere undertaking although the members of his cabnl^f-fc^aptious from the grant. He thought it would be somewhat cap if, after contracts had been entered into oujthe £ that Bromise, it rescinded at the close of the report !«Pr 'w Hunt expressed his acknowledgments of the valua- ble assistance he had received from Mr. Chiiders m ence to the passing of the estimates and the Treasury busi- ^^Tr^hlfders" in accepting the compliment, said that he had on^done that whfch it was his duty to his successor t°J?,0- -n i „„ /xTr, 91 Bill was read a third time and parsed, aT wlTthfp^ilhes (Scotland) Act (1844) Amend- ment Bill: In answer to Mr. Oliphant, jonnation of the armistice Lord Stanley said that a pro on^ place, but he had between Austria and Prussia uaa v > no information with regard to the Pr^1 ne'xfc On the motion for adjournment to Mon 7 » Mr. D. Griffith called attention to object: to the pre- sent system of voting m public companies, Yent t]aem holders whose occupation, convenience, or se p eana 0f from attending public meetings or polls kaj f what is voting except by proxy, before they are awar likely to happen at the meeting of the company. Sir S. Northcote promised attention to the suLijecu The O'Conor Don called attention to the treatmen emigrants on board the steamers plying between Li rp and New York, and to the great prevalence of ciioiei during the last three months on board many of those VeMr|SAdderley said that no blame attached to the Emigra- tion Commissioners but some cases of cholera had broKen out on board some vessels which had touched at Rotterdam. Care had been taken to prevent Dutch emigrants from being taken as passengers. After discussion, the motion for adjournment was agreed On going into committee on Railways (Ireland) Tempo rary Advances Bill, „ Mr. BLenley expressed a hope that full explanation would. r be given by the Government as to the position in which the House stood in this very exceptional matter of advancing £500,000, but to whom was not stated the professed object was to prevent wide-spread distress and embarrassment in Ireland, and the provision did not seem proportionate to such a purpose. But the circumstances of such an advance ought to be very special, and care should be taken that no precedent should be created. Mr. Childers said that advances had ere now been made to Irish railways, the policy of such advances having been adopted in that country; but it was under a very exceptional state of things arising out of the present monetary crisis that the late Government agreed to advance £ 500,000, not so much for purposes of construction as to enable Irish rail- way companies to pay off debentures, which they could not do in any other way.. „ Mr. O. Gore supported the proposition, and urged further dealing in this direction with Irish railways. Mr. Gladstone admitted that proposals of this kind should be carefully considered. The proposition was made by the late Government three months ago, and its carrying out was only interrupted by the pressure in the money market. Every precaution had been taken to render it certain that the security on which advances were made should be uncleuirtble. Mr. Grant urged that the proposal in question was one likely to be drawn into a precedent, and its principle must be extended to English railways. The Chancellor of the Exchequer said the main reason which led the Government to adopt this proposition was that it was probable tha.t the rolling stock of the Irish rail- ways would be seized, and the traffic of the country para- lysed. Besides, the persons by whom loans had been ex- pected by the arrangement of the late Government had a fair claim to be considered.. The bill was taken in committee, and passed through tha,t stage; as was the Landed Estates Courts (Ireland) Bill, which regulated and increased the salaries of the two judges of the court, to which the number wad now diminished.. Next, progress was resumed in committee with the Public Health Bill, beginning at clause 11. Clauses to 22 in- clusive were agreed to with amendments, and progress was reported. „ The Appropriation Bill was brought in and read a first tXTt'was announced by Mr. Hunt, and confirmed by Mr. Childers, that the first message had been received through the completed Atlantic cable. The House adjourned at 20 minutes to two o clock. In the House of Lords, on Monday, Lord Redesdale, on the part of the Archbishop of Canterbury, moved to dis- charge the order for the third reading of the Consecration of Churchyards (No, 2) Bill. Lord Stanley of Alderley opposed the withdrawal. On a division the withdrawal was agreed to by 28 to 19. The Thames Navigation, and several other bills, were read a second time. The New Forest Poor Relief Bill, the Rochdale Vicarage, the Inland Revenue, and other bills passed through com- mittee. „ The British Columbia Bill, the Militia Pay Bill, the Public Works Loans (Ireland) Bill, the Foreign Jurisdic- tion Act Amendment Bill, and others, were read a third time and passed. The House adjourned at half-past six o'clock. In the House of Commons, in answer to Mr. O'Beirne, Lord Naas, in reference to the appointment of Mr. Napier to the Lord Justiceship of Appeal in Ireland, read a letter from that right hon. gentleman to Lord Derby, stating that owing to the impression on the public mind-mistaken though it was-that his defect of hearing was an obstacle to his performing the duties of a judge, he felt it right to withdraw from the office to which he had been ap- pointed. In answer to Mr. Maguire, Lord Naas said he had not received a similar letter from Lord Chancellor Blackburne. On going into committee on the Fortifications (Provision for Expenses) Bill, Mr. Osborne objected to its passing without discussion, and proceeded to contend that the whole plan to which the House originally consented had been altered; and whereas the original estimate was eleven millions, the expenditure would be nearly thirty. He urged that there was yet time to pause in this reckless expenditure. General Peel was unable to give an exact account of the state of the fortifications at present. The estimate was for a new work at Tilbury, for the defence of the mouth of the Thames, and this he deemed it necessary to submit to the House. Mr. Gladstone said that the original estimate for fortifica- tions was not eleven, but five millions, although it grew to between six and seven. He did not think that a proposal for new fortifications ought to be made at this period of the session, and in the form in which it was made. He objected to this sum being raised by loan, instead of being taken out of the revenue. „ The Chancellor of the Exchequer said it tie House seriously objected to proceeding with the vote at this time, he would not press it. After some further discussion the bill was withdrawn. The Public Health Bill was then taken in committee, and journed. In the House of Lords, on Tuesday, Lord Lyveden in- quired whether it was the intention of the Government to introduce during the present session any measure relating to the Confederation of the North American colonies. Lord Carnarvon said the Canadian representatives were shortly expected, and her Majesty's Government was most anxious to facilitate any arrangement that should be in accordance with the wishes of the colonies and consistent with the interests of the country. The Local Government Supplemental (Nos. 1 and 2) Bills were read a second time, as were also the Railway Com- panies' Securities Bill and the Land Drainage Supplemental (No. 2) Bill. Other Bills were also advanced in their various stages, and their lordships then adjourned. At a morning sitting in the House of Commons, Mr. Watkin, pursuant to the arrangement made last week, brought on his motion for the appointment of a Royal Commission to inquire into the causes of the late pressure in the money-market, and the Currency Laws generally. After entering at length into the leatures of the late crisis, and the rate of discount connected therewith, he concludes by showing that the Act of 1844 had. neither prevented panics nor fluctuations m the rate of interest, urged that an inquiry was necessary to ascertain whether the figures in the Act of 1814 were still in proportion with the trade and manufactures of the country, and declared that if it were refused the commercial classes would believe that the House and the Government were indifferent to their difficulties. Mr. Akroyd seconded the motion. Sir S. Northcote said the Government responded to the natural desire of the mercantile community for an investi- gation into the causes of the commercial distress and the long prevalence of a high rate of discount, but they did not allow that a Commission was the best mode of inquiry. It would however, be wiser to wait until the result of the in- quiry which had been instituted by the French Government was known. The Government had no desire to adhere tenaciously to every detail of the Act of 1844, but the same time they were anxious not to do anything to lead to the impression that they believed the Act of 1844 ito be a main cause of the monetary pressure, or that it was to an> material alteration of its provisions or abandonment ot its principle that we were to look for a cure. They be- lieved that on the whole its principles were sound, though improvements might be possiblein the ma^meiy to prevent a recurrence of some of the evils with whicli its working was attended. During the recess he g g the Government would give their serious at working of the details of the Act, and if they found it possible on inquiry they would gladly introduce a remedial measure, bunfthey were not able to propose beneficial legislation they would not object to a committee being appointed at the commencement of the session. Un- doubtedly one result of the crisis had been a run iipon England," but that was not due to the operation of the Act of 1844, nor did the Government believe that it could be prevented by any tampering with the currency laws. After somo observations from Mr. Fawcett, Mr. Hubbard defended in detail the administration of the Bank directors, explained the objects of the Act of 1844, and asserted that but for it the recent crisis would have been aggravated by the additional calamity of a suspensirn of cash payments. No system of currency, he maintained, could avert these panics, and the chief duty of a Govern- ment was to maintain the convertibility of the note, which the Act had done. The directors would gladly welcome any inquiry. Mr. Gladstone approved the determination of the Govern- ment not to grant a commission, and also their intimation that next Session they would either propose to legislate or would grant a committee. He eulogised the operation of the Act of 1844 as having solved many important problems, among others ho w_ to stop foreign drains, and also as having established the principle that the whole business of issue be- longed to the State. After some remarks from Mr. Henley, the debate was ad- iourned until i riday, on the motion of'Mr. J. B. Smith. J At the evening sitting, Mr. Buxton called attention to the. paragraph in the re- port of the Jsmaica Commission which states that the punishments mflicted in Jamaica were in many cases exces- sive and indiscriminate, and moved several resolutions, the effect of which, as he explained, was to condemn what was done after the disturbanees were suppressed, and to award compensation to those wliose relaAions had been killed or nroDerty destroyed. After speakmg on the subject at con- Stweleugth.he concluded with a vigorous appeal to both sides of the House to vindicate the honour and credit of the C°MrrAdderley criticised with some severity the language of Mr Buxton's resolutions, pointing out various incon- fiLmicies in them, and that while some were inadmissible, T^Hrttcularlv those relating to compensation and remission KSit, the others were unnecessary and unwise. HVT-ued that, as the question had been fully discussed aid pronounced upon by a Royal Commission, it was un- necessary to reopen the case, and concluded by moving the ^r^MiU^aid'tliat a criminal court alone was capable of • S- adpauate punishment in these cases. If any inflicting away the life of one of the Queen's sub- ofhcial co j without being brought to trial, we might jects nnj»r _P altogether the principle of being governed as well g though it might be said that in this ease the officials thought those whom they put to death were I deserving of it, the same excuse might be urged for the authors of the St. Bartholomew and the September mas- sacres. Mr. W. E. Forster, though declining to support Mr. Mill in prosecuting Governor Eyre, agreed with Mr. Buxton that the House of Commons ought to censure him for the exces- sive punishments-" legal massacres," as he described them —the whole responsibility of which, he showed, rested on him alone. He suggested that the Colonial-office should look into the whole system of martial law in the colonies, and place it on the same footing as in England. After some observa':ioij| from Mr. B. Cochrane, The Attorney-General deprecated any judgment of the House as to the legality of matters on which judicial pro- ceedings might yet be taken. Mr. Cardwell explained the reasons which induced the late Government not to deal with Mr. Eyre by a criminal prosecution, but simply to dismiss him, and reminded the House that instructions had been issued to institute ia- quiries into the conduct of all the subordinate officials who might be suspected of not having acted with perfect bona fides. Mr. Hughes, Sir R. Palmer, and Mr. R. Gurney having spoken, After some discussion as to the exact sense in which it was to be understood, the first resolution was agreed to, and the three others were withdrawn. The Bill for further suspending the Habeas Corpus Act in Ireland was brought in and read a first time. The remaining business was disposed of, and the House adjourned at 25 minutes to two o'closk.

Deputation to the Home Secretary.

The Reform League and Mr.…

Great Meeting in the Agricultural-hall.

The Victoria-park Meeting.

Hyde-park.

Meeting in Bradford.

The Reform League and the…