The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-07-05 00:00:00

THE CONFERENCE.

Replying to Mr. C. Lewis, Mr. Gladstone stated that,
In accordance with his undertaking that the whole of
the proceedings of the Government in relation to the
preliminary agreement with France, and the action
which might be taken in the Conference should become
entirely subject to the judgment of Parliament, it was
his intention to ask an affirmative vote of the House of
Commons, which would have the effect of either sus-
taining or overthrowing the Arrangements of the
Government. The Chancellor of the Exchequer added,
in reply to Sir H. Wolff, that no date had been fixed for
the next meeting of the Conference.

THE CREW OP THE RISER°.

In answer to Mr. Storey, Lord E. Fitzmaurice an-
nounced, with an expression of deep regret, that three
of the crew of the Nisero had died in captivity and that
others were ill. The whole question was the subject of
an active interchange of views between her Majesty's
Government and the Netherlands Government.

THE PROPOSED VOTE OF CENSURE.
At the conclusion of question time, Mr. Gladstone,
in pursuance of notice, moved that the Orders of the
Day be postponed until the conclusion of the Vote of
Censure debate.

Mr. Forster appealed to Mr. Arnold to withdraw his
amendment on the ground that the previous question
would be the most fitting method of meeting a motion
which he deemed most inopportune.
Mr. Arnold declined, and Sir W. Lawson asked the
Prime Minister to take some action of the kind.

Mr. Gladstone, in reply, expressed the opinion that
the debate would be most injurious and inoppmv
tune, and that it would be impossible for the Govern-
ment to enter into a general defence of their policy.
Mr. Goschen thereupon said that what had happened
confirmed him in the opinion that the House would be
doing its duty to the public if it refused to postpone
the Orders of the Day. No doubt the Government was
bound by custom aud usage to find a day when notice
was given of a Vote of Censure; but the House was
not bound by any such consideration, and by declining to
allow the debate to come on, the House would preserve
to itself the same liberty of action which had been
claimed by the French Chamber.
Sir S. NORTHCOTE reminded the House that when
they were told that a Conference was to be held they
were assured that its object was purely financial. They
now found that an agreement had been made between
her Majesty's Government and the Government of
France, which laid down principles of the greatest im-
portance, and the question was whether that agree-
ment ought to be accepted as a basis for any further
proceedings, or whether the House ought not to express
its disapproval of it at once.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer denied that the
House had been in any way misled, and pointed out
that if no agreement were come to between the Powers
in conference the Anglo-French agreement would be
at an end; while, on the other hand, if the Powers
should agree together the House would have the fullest
opportunity of discussing not only the proceedings of
the Conference but the understanding with France. In
his opinion, a debate on the present occasion would be
most mischievous.
Mi. Illingworth and Mr. Heneage supported the course
suggested by Mr. Goschen. Baron H. de Worms spoke
against it, and Mr. Raikes remarked that people out of
doors would conclude that Mr. Goschen was acting in
concert with the Government, and that the Liberal
party was afraid to face the discussion, to which
Sir W. Harcourt replied that Mr. Raikes was the
only person in the House capable of making such a
suggestion.
The House then divided, and the motion to postpone
the Orders was negatived by 190 to 148. MI. Gladstone
and all the members of the Treasury bench present
voted with the minority; but the announcement of the
members was receil ed with loud cheers from the
benches behind them.
After the division Sir S. Northcote complained that
the Prime Minister had now for the first time declared
the motion to be mischievous, though he had not
dropped a word to this effect when he gave a day
for it.
To this Mr. Gladstone replied that he had not felt
called on to make this declaration until the responsi-
bility was placed on him by Mr. Forster's appeal.

MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS BILL.
The House then proceeded to the Orders of the Day,
the first of which was the consideration of the
Municipal Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Practices)
Bill as amended by the Standing Committee. Much
objection was raised to taking the bill in the absence of
many members interested who had not expected it to
come on, and the Irish members especially opposed the
extension of the bill to Ireland. Successive mations
were made to adjourn the debate and the House, and,
ultimately, after a formal stage had been taken, the
discussion of amendments which are to be proposed
was adjourned. In the course of the discussion it was
stated by the Home Secretary that the London Govern-
ment Bill would be taken on Thursday.

THE POLICE BILL.
Mr. Hibbert next moved the second reading of the
Police Bill, the main object of which he explained to
be the pensioning of policemen after 25 years' service,
but at the minimum age of 55.
Mr. Sclater-Booth objected to the proposed interfer-
ence with the discretion of local authorities, and the
burden to be imposed upon the rates.
Lord Folkestone moved the adjournment of the
debate on the ground that members had been taken by
surprise, and after an unsuccessful attempt at a count
out and some strong observations from Sir William
Harcourt on the obstruction with which the bill was
met, the motion was negatived by 56 to 18.
The debate on the bill was continued by Sir W.
Barttelott, who objected to the interference with the
local authorities.

Sir M. Hicks-Beach and Sir M. Lopes also dwelt on
the expenses which the bill would throw on the local
rates.

Sir W. Harcourt denied this, and after some remarks
from Sir H. Selwin-Ibbetson and General Alexander,
who supported the bill, it was read a second time.
After some other orders had been disposed of, the
House was counted oat at half-past one o'clock.

In the HOUSE OF LORDS, July 1, there was a very
large attendance of peers, especially on the Opposition
side, the peeresses' galleries were well filled, and the
spaces at the 'foot of the throne and outside the bar
were thronged by Privy Councillors, the sons of peers,
and members of the House of Commons.