The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1876-06-20 00:00:00

imperial f arliamntt.

MONDAY.
In the Commons, Mr. Bourke, in answer to a question
from Mr. Bromley Davenport, said that in the event ot
the Channel Tunnel scheme being Procaed.l with, it
would be necessary to obtain the sanction of Perlin:neut.
Sir W. Fraser then called attention to the letter addressed
to Mr. Ripley, member for Bradford, by Mr. Morris,
acting secretary to the Political Committee of the Reform
Club, styling it • menace and a gross breach of privilege.
He moved that Mr. Morris be summoned to the bar of
the House. The letter having, on the order of the
Speaker, been read by the Clerk, Mr. Ripley expressed
regret that the matter had assumed a personal character,
and had been brought before the House. The Marquis
of Hartington took a similar view, and Sir W. Fraser
withdrew the motion.

TUESDAY.
The House of Lords re-assembled after the Whitsuntide
recess, passed some Bills, and adjourned after a sitting of
only 90 minutes duration.
The first morning Batting of the Commons during the
present sessions took plane on Tuesday. when the House
met at two o'clock. The Poor-law Amendment Bill passed
through Committee, after some alterations in clauses.
The Fitting was suspended at seven o'clock. In the even-
ing sitting there was no busineds of importance.

WILDNESDAT.
In the House of Commons, Sir Wilfrid Lawson, with-
out comment, moved the second reading of the Permissive
Prohibitory Liquor Bill. Mr. Wheelhouse moved the
rejection of the Bill, declaring that it was fraught with
coercion in it. very worst form. lie maintained that
drunkenness was on the decrease, and to make people
compulsorily total abeteinere wag beyond any reasonable
limit of legislation. Mr. S. Morley, while supporting the
principle of the Bill, declared that he would be no party
to destroying well-conducted public-houses without com-
pensation. Mr. A. Mills believed that one effect of the
measure would be to increase the temptation to drinking
by the formation of private clubs. Dr. Keneely expressed
his intention to vote for the second reading, but he would
not destroy the property in public-houses without coin-
pensation. FAH Percy, while Ryrnpathising with the
object of the promoters, regarded the measure as unsound
and mischievous in principle. After • few words from
Mr. Jacob Bright in favour of the Bill, Mr. ?Aunts
remarked that in America the prohibition of the drink
traffic had not produced the elysium which was to follow
the panting of this BilL One very serious objection to
the Bill was that it would introduce the intolerable
nuisenod of an annual election. Sir Wilfrid Lawson then
rose to reply. Ile admitted that every trade that was
for the good of the community ought to be free, but
persons who dealt in articles which produced disorder,
crime, and matinees were engaged in • bad trade, and
the Legislature had a right to interfere with it. All he
proposed was that it should he interfered with only when
the preponderating voice of the district was in favour of
interference. He contended that experience showed that
where the number of public-houses was small the people
were more sober than where the licensing power of the
magistrates was exercised to the full extent, and he only
proposed that the power of the magistrates should be
controlled where two-thirds of the inhabitant, differed
from them. Sir If. Selwin-Ibbetson, on behalf of the
Government, closed the debate and opposed the Bill.
The House then divided, and there voted tor the second
reading. al ; against, Wit The Bill was therefore again
thrown out by a majority of 2111, Last year there was a
much larger house, and FE voted for the Bill and sti
against it. leave wu given to Sir Yardley Wilmot to
bring in a Bill to enable courts of justice to send young
I children to certified reformatory schools without previous
imprisonment.

Taw RSDAI.
In the House of Lords, Lord Northbrook, on his return
from India, took his seat as Earl of Northbrook and
Viscount Bering of Lee. The Earl of Derby. in reply to
a question, said that England. France, and Austria
guaranteed jointly and severally the independence of the
Ottoman Empire. By the second artizle of the treaty,
any infraction of the stipulations would be regarded by
the Powers as a caws UM, and they would immediately
consult with Turkey as to the force that would be
necessary to maintain the treaty. As to the other part of
the question with reference to Servia and Roumania,
Lord Derby said the treaty suaranteed the independence
and integrity of Turkey against foreign aggression, and it
was not contemplated that we should bind cureelves to
take part in the internal quarrels between the Turkish
Gevernment and states tributary to it.
In the House of Commons, on the motion for the second
reading of the Government Education Bill, Mr. Mundell&
moved, "That, in the opinion of this House, it is deeir.
able that the recommendations contained in the recent
report of the Factory and Workshops Acts Commission,
relating to the enforcement of the attendance of children
at school, should be introduced in any measure for im-
proving the elementary education of the people." He
explained that his object was not to impede the measure,
but to render it as effective as possible, for if it passed in
Its present form, t would only have the effect of hearing
up the question of education for a few years. The Hon.
A. K Ashley seconded the amendment Subsequently the
debate was adjourned.