The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-03-03 00:00:00

THE CORRUPT PRACTICES BILL.

In the HOUSE OF COMMONS, Feb. 28, Baron De Ferriires
gave notice that on the second reading of the Corrupt
PractiePs Bill he would move a resolution declaring that the
Bill would be inoperatiVe unless provisions were made for
the closing of public-homes and beer-shops on the day of
pollir g.
THE DEBATE ON TilE ADDRESS.

Lord Hartington, in moving the suspension of the orders
of the day until after the adjourned debate on the Address,
made an appeal to members, in the interests of public busi-
ness, to dispose of the remaining stages of the Address
during the present sitting.
The motion having been agreed to, the debate was resumed
by Mr. Molloy, Who protested against the Government
scheme of emigration to Canada as a cowardly method of
getting rid of a difficulty which they had not the courage to
face in a more direct manner.
The O'Donoghue said that he had attentively listened to
the debate; but so far he had not heard a single practical
suggestion made for the relief of the distress which it was
admitted on all hands extensively prevailed in the south
and west of Ireland. One suggestion was outdoor relief,
but he dented that it would mitigate the seVerity of the dis-
tress, while, on the other hand, it would have a demo-
ralizing effect, and would in the end ruin the tenants
engaged in agricultural operations. The construction of public
works had also be-'n suggested; but the relief thus afforded
would be transient and temporary, and it would be necessary
to undertake the works in places which were not suffering
heavily from distress. In the next place, he contended that
the reclamation of waste lands would only result in placirg
upon the soil a number of pauper cottiers • and as to migra-
tion, that scheme could not be carried outwithout dispos.
sessing the present population. His proposal for the relief
of distress—namely, emigration—was suggested by its cause,
which was want of employment. It was an undoubted fact
that there .as no employment to be found for the popula-
tion, and there was no immediate probability of that cause
being removed. There would be no forced removal, but
only those would go who saw before them the prospect only
of semi-starvation.
Colonel Nolan said he strongly protested against the pre-
sent distress being used to stimulate emigration. His own
opinion was that, the pauperism and distress being nothing
like general, even in the West of Ireland, and being solely
attributable to the want of employment, the difficulty might
be met by a judicious scheme of public works.
Mr. J. P. Corry said he had had some experience of giving
relief in times of famine, and he had always found that it
resulted in great demoralization. He condemned indis-
criminate outdoor relief.
Mr. Blake urged the necessity for public works, and espe-
cially the development of the Irish fisheries by means of
loans and improved harbour accommodation.
Mr. O'Sullivan advocated the relief of distress by a system

of -Oti-tefoOrr grants.
Mr. Richardson said he was of opinion that a loan could
not be devoted to a better purpose than the erection of
fishery piers along the coast of Ireland.
Mr. M'Coan pointed out the immediate urgency of the
need for the relief of the distress, and suggested that by
making loans to poor law guardians at low terms the diffi-
culty might be mot. Migration he looked upon as an imprac-
ticable myth, and certainly emigration was not the remedy
that should be adopted.
Mr. Beresford, Mr. R. Power, Mr. T. Dickson, and Mr.
Macfarlane also took part in the debate.
Mr. Childers, in the course of a lengthy speech, reminded
the House that there was at present, and had been for many
years, a considerable amount of emigration from Ireland.
It fluctuated considerably ranging from 60,000 or 70,000 to
140,000 emigrants a year, and at present might, perhaps, be
put at 100,00 a year. One factor that must not be for-
gotten was the assistance sent home by settlers abroad to
enable their friends to emigrate. It was estimated that a
million and a half of money had been remitted in that way.
But the misfortune was, that this help did not extend
to the more congested districts, because few people had
gone out from those districts. He was strongly in favour
of assisting a moderate and systematic emigration from those
districts; but, after the population had been adjusted in that
way, care must be taken that the present state of things did
not return. With regard to Government advances to small
tenants, he invited practical suggestions to enable them to
carry out that provision to the best advantage, and con-
cluded by expressing a hope that the debate would be
allowed to close this afternoon.
Sir W. Barttelot agreed with the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer in deprecating undue advances for public works, and
argued that the Government must deal with the causes of
the distress. or Ireland would continue to suffer from agita-
tion, disturbances, and crime.
Captain O'Shea announced that the Government would
shortly be asked to promote the cot struction of new rail-
ways in County Clare, anC. then they would be put to the
test on the question of reproductive loans. Re thought they
should also turn their attention to the improvement of the
sy stem of Irish workhouses.
After some remarks from Dr. Commins and Mr. Callan,

The Marquis of Hartington expressed bis regret that no
disposition haa been shown to pay attention to the appeals
which he ventured to make at the beginning of the sitting.
lie made that appeal not in the interest of the Government,
but in the interest of the progress of public business; and it
was also to the convenience of the House itself that the debate
might be concluded that day. That, of course, was now im.
possible, and the debate must be adjourned. He wished,
however, to give notice that he would propose, immediately
at the close of this debate, to take the next stage of report.
The House adjourned at 5.50,

A REASONING TOAD.—An American paper relates
an interesting instance of a toad's cunning. A brood
of chickens were fed with moistened meal in saucers,
and when the dough soured a little it attracted large
numbers of flies. An observant toad had evidently
noticed this, and every day, along toward evening, he
would make his appearance in the yard, hop to a
saucer, climb in and roll over and over until he was
covered with meal, having done which he awaited
developments. The flies, enticed by. '
the smell, soon
swarmed around the scheming batracluan and when-
ever one passed within two inches or so of his nose his
tongue darted out and the fly disappeared; this plan
worked bowell that the toad haa,d4 a regularlusiuges of
it,

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