The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-02-23 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

In the Horn or LoRDS, Feb. 18, Lord Derby made an ap-
peal to Lord Stratheden and Campbell not to bring forward
his motion, declaring that the terms of the armistice were
such as to justify the Government in taking every precau-
tion to discourage elcroachments on the Treaties of 1858
and 1871. IN, had consulted with his colleagues, and .they
were satisfied that the terms of an armistice entered into
between two belligerent Powers in a war to which we were
no parties was not a discussion calculated to advance the
public interest and was not one in which any representative
of the Government would take part. If Lord Stratheden's
motion should be proceeded with, the Government would
meet it by moving "the previous question."
Lord Stratheden and Campbell then postponed his motion,
reserving to himself the right to move on another occasion
a resolution to the same effect.

Lord Granville expressed his concurrence with what had
fallen from Lord Derby, and asked the Government whether
any farther progress had been made by the Powers of Europe
with reference to the meeting of a Conference, and whether
the Government had any additional information to com-
municate respecting the movements of the fleet in Turkish
waters.

Lord Derby replied to the first question in the negative.
With regard to the movements of the fleet, he said that
Admiral llornby, having first of all selected Princes Islands
for the anchorage of the fleet, had since, after communica-
ting with Mr. Layard, removed the ships further from Con-
stantinople, to Moudania, where there was a better anchor-
age, and where also the fleet would be in telegraphic com-
munication with Constantinople. A telegram. Lord Derby
added, had been received from Mr. Layard, who denied the
truth of a statement which appeared in the Daily News of
the 7th inst., and declared that he never encouraged the
Turks to go to war, or to expect any material aid from
England.
-

Lord Cadogan moved the second reading of the Parlia-
mentary Election (Metropolis) Bill, 'which had for its
object to extend the hours of polling at elections in the
Metropolis.

Lord Enfield suggested that the operation of the Bill
should be extended to other large towns.

Lord Shaftesbury expressed his approval of the Bill, which
was read a second time.

Their lordships then adjourned.
In the HOUSE OF COMMONS, the Marquis of Hartington
asked whether the Government could give any information
as to the progress of the negotiations for a Congress or as
to the movements of the fleet in the Sea of Marmora.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, answering the last
question first, said that Admiral Hornby acting in concert
with our Ambassador has taken up a position at Moudania
Bay, in the south-east angle of the Sea of Marmora. This
was a convenient station, and the Admiral was acting
entirely within his instructions, which authotized him to
choose what station he pleased. With regard to the Con-
gress he was not just then able to give any information to
the House, but an important communication had been
received within the last half-hour by the Foreign Office,
which had not yet been submitted to the Government.

Sir C. Dilke asked whether the Russians have evacuated
the redoubt of Samidie within the neutral zone, to which

The Chancellor of the Exchequer replied that the Govern-
ment had no official information that any redoubt within
the neutral zone had been seized by the Russians. He
appealed to Mr. Monk, who had given notice that lie
would call attention to the delay in making public
Colonel Wellesley's conversations with the Czar in July
and August last, not to persist in his intention, as it
might lead to a debate which would be most inconve-
nient at the present moment, The delay arose from the
fact that the conversations were strictly confidential, and
their publication would have been objected to by flis
Majesty. Mr. Monk in reply, though not admitting that the
reasons of the Chancellor of the Exchequer were entirely
satisfactory, declined to put his opinion against that
of the responsible Minister, and withdrew his notice.

Colonel Beresford asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer
whether Her Majesty's Government would endeavour to
obtain for the Polish subjects of the Emperor of Russia a
like measure of civil and religious liberty to that which the
conference might decide to be fit for the territories belong-
ing to Ms Majesty the Sultan of Turkey.
_ . .
-

The Chancellor of the Exchequer said Her Majesty's
Government had no reason to suppose that the affairs of
Poland would be brought before the Congress.
In answer to Mr. Mundella the Attorney-General said
that at present it was the intention of the Government not
to introduce a Patent Law Amendment Bill.

The Consolida4ed Fund (£6,000,000), and the Exchequer
Bonds Bills were read a third time and passed.

The adjourned debate on the County Government Bill,
and Mr. Stansfeld's amendment to it, was resumed by Lord
E. Fitzmaurice, who opposed the Bill, which he regarded as
departure froni the old lines of local self-government.
Mr. Paget, in supporting the 13111, suggested that the
collection of the dog tax should be handed over to local
government, and that perhaps along with it the local autho-
rities might be vested with special powers to impose a wheel
tax of their own.

Lord G. Cavendish cordially thanked the Government for
the highway ciauses of the Bill, and expressed his con-
fidence that the new Boards would ultimately be a great
improvement.

Mr. C. S. Read thought it would be sufficient if one-third
of the new board were nominated by the magistrates instead
of one-half.

Mr. A. Peel felt assured that the time would come when
the whole of the board would be elected by the ratepayer,
but he thought it would be inexpedient to adopt such a sys-
tem at once.

Sir G. Jenkinson, Sir T. Acland, Mr. Gregory, and Mr.
Asslieton commented on various points in the Bill, while
Sir H. Jackson opposed the Bill because there was no
finality in it. Mr. Chamberlain also opposed the measure.
Sir J. M.Garel Hogg defended the principle of irdirect elec-
tion contained in the Bill. Mr. Whitbread supported the
amendment. Mr. Goschen warmly opposed the Bill.
Mr. Sclater-Booth, in replying on behalf of the Govern-
ment, said he had listened with pleasure to the criticisms
on the Bill from both sides of the House. There had been
nothing antagonistic to the principle of the Bill in many of
the amendments brought forward, and he would be glad to
give them the best consideration in committee.

The Marquis ef Hartington withdrew the amendment on
behalf of Mr Stansfeld, and suggested that opposition to
the second reading should be withdrawn until it was
seen what amenuments would be proposed In com-
mittee by the Government. After some further
discussion, in the course of which the Chancellor
of the Exchequer, replying to Major Nolan, said he hoped
that within a few days the Irish Bill on the same subject as
this would be introduced. The House divided upon the
second reading, which was carried by 231 to 63.
Some other business was disposed of, and the House ad-
journed at two o'clock.

In the llotsE OF LORDS, Feb. 10, the Duke of Argyll asked
Lord Derby whether he could give any further information
respecting the negotiations understood to be going on re-
specting the occupation of Gallipoli.
Lord Derby said that all he could state with respect to the
Important subject to which the Duke of Argyll called atten-
tion was that communications were still going on, and he
had no doubt that on Thursday he should be in a condition
to mention their result.
Lord Kinnaird moved the second reading of the Public
Parks (Scotland) Bill, the object of which he stated to be to
enable local authorities in Scotland to acquire land for the
formation of public parks and pleasure grounds.
The Bill was read a second time.
The House Occupiers' Disqualification Removal Bill, and
the Parliamentary Elections (Metropolis) Bill passed through
Committee.

Their Lordships then adjourned.
In the HOUSE OF COMMONS, Mr. J. Holmes gave notice
that he would on that day four weeks call the attention of
the House to the position of the Volunteer force and move
a resolution on the subject.
Mr E. Jenkins asked the Secretary for the Colonies
whether, in view of the nature of the intelligence from
South Africa, he would give the House some official informa-
tion of the state of affairs at the Cape, and as to the pro-
ceedings which were being taken by the Government to
arrange the existing difficulties.
Sir M. Hicks-Beach said in reply to the question of the hon.
member, which was rather of a general character, he had no
official intelligence to give him with respect to the state of
affairs at the Cape materially differing from that which he
had doubtless seen through the ordinary channels of infor-
mation. He thought, however, there was reason to hope that
the disturbances on the Cape frontier were in course of being
suppressed, and that the Zulu King,. whose actions exercised
great influence among all South African natives, was adopt-
ing a more pacific attitude. With regard to political matters,
of course the whole energies of the Cape Government was
occupied by the military situation, and there was no oppor-
tunity at present for considering or discussing any measures
that might become neaessary until the rebellion was put
down.

Mr. Meldon called attention to the borough franchise in
Treland, which he contended was practically confined to
householders paying £,5 a year rent, while in England every
householder in a borough was entitled to a vote, so that the
franchise was higher in the country where the people were
poorer. He moved a resolution to the effect that the re-
stricted nature of the borough franchise of Ireland, as com-
pared with that existing in England and Scotland, is a sub-
ject deserving the immediate attention of Parlimnent, with
a view of establishing a fair and just equality of the franchise
In the three countries.

Mr. C. Lewis had an amendment on the paper affirming
that there was no substantial ground for believing that in
the present state of the Irish Borough representation the
opinions of the inhabitants of the borough constituencies
are not really represented; that certain of the borough con-
stituencies returning 30 members have a population of less
than one-sixteenth of the whole of Ireland; and that the
reform which is really required in the representation of
Ireland is a redistribution of seats. The hon. member did
not move this formally, but contented himself with con-
cluding his speech by warmly opposing the motion.
Sir W. Harcourt, in supporting the motion, asked if it
were wise of the Government to allow Irish members to
continue to bring forward such a solid, just, and reasonable
grievance-
The Attorney-General for Ireland contended that as rents
were cheaper in that country the franchise was really as low
as in England. There was no general complaint on the part
of the people of Ireland that they were not represented.
Mr. O'Shaughnessy, Sir J. Eardley Wilmot, Mr. Blenner-
hasset, and Dr. Ward supported the Bill, the latter remark-
ing that the House was fostering unconstitutional proceed-
ings among the Irish people by declining to remedy a just
grievance and allow the people to express their views in a
constitutional manner.
- -

After some further discussion, in course of which the
motion was also supported by Mr. Biggar, Major Nolan, Mr.
Stacpoole, and Mr. Kirk, Mr. D. Plunket rose from the
Ministerial side of the House to oppose it, because he believed
it would be most injurious under existing circumstances, and
would place too much power in the hands of an uncontrolled
and unsufficientiy educated democracy.

Mr. Bright supported the extension of the franchise as
one of the measures which would tend in course of time to
make Ireland as anxious for a Parliamentary union with
this country as Scotland was. Notwithstanding recent de-
monstrations in favour of a separate Legislature, he
believed that ultimately by a little kindness and condes-
cension on the part of Great Britain and a little more
thought on the part of Ireland, the cry for Home
Rule would disappear ; and he urged that the House
ought not only to show iteelf quite willing to do Ireland a
full measure of justice, but even to 'Alain a point to meet
the views of the great majority of her members. The exten-
sion of household suffrage to Ireland would make very little
difference in the general state of the representation, and the
dismal prophecies from the other side would be as com-
pletely disappointed as in times past.

- - -
Sir James Mlienna and Mr. Gray, spoke for the resolution
and Mr. Bowen against it, and on a division it was negatived
by the narrow majority of 8-126 to 134. The result was
received with much cheering from the Irish members.
Mr. O'Donnell brought before the House the appointment
of Mr. Macpherson as Deputy-Secretary to the Legislative
Department in India, which was explained and justified by
Lord G. llamilton, and some other business having been
disposed of the House adjourned at ten minutes past two
o'clock.

In the HOUSE OF COMMONS, Feb. 20, Mr. McCarthy
moved the second reading of the Waste Lands (Ireland)
Bill, the object of which is to facilitate the reclamation of
waste lands in Ireland, which the hon member described as
one of the greatest and gravest problems affecting the
material condition of Ireland.

Mr. Verner briefly moved the rejection of the Bill. on the
ground that it proposed to throw the expenses of forming
reclamation districts upon the public funds, whilst they
ought to he borne by the parties interested; and also on the
ground that its provisions would practically ignore the
rights of property.
After a discussion, in the course of which Mr. O'Reilly,
Mr. Macartney, The O'Conor Don, Viscount Crichton, Sir
Robert Pell, Mr. Lowther, and other hon, members took part,
the House divided, when the numbers were—for the second
reading, 118; against, 147; majority against, 29.
The second reading of the Queen's College and University
(Ireland) Bill was movea by Mr. O'Donnell, and the hon.

member had not concluded his remarks at a quarter to six,
when by the rules of the House the debate was adjourned.
The Matrimonial Causes Act Amendment Bill was read a
second time.

On the motion of Sir C. Adderley, the Select Committee on
the Alt:reliant Seamen Bill was nominated.
The Rouse then adjourned.