The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-07-25 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLP_MENT.

In the HOUSE or LORDS, on the 20th inst., Lord
Harrowby, replying to Lord Sidmouth, stated that the
report of the officer appointed by the late Board of
Admiralty to inspect the ccast defences and to inquire
as to the condition of the Naval Volunteer Corps was
a confidential document, and he did not know whether
any portions of it could he laid on the table. On the
aeneral subject of our naval forces and coast defences,
he had only to repeat that it was one which would be
in no way neglected by the present Government.
POOR LAW GUARDIANS (IRELAND) BILL.
Lora Stanley of Alderley called attention to the
remprks upon the Financial Reform Association's
Almanac made by Mr. Goschen at Ripon on the Ist of
January and to the encouragement given by certain
members of the late Government to misleading
statistics; but at the close of the noble lord's observa-
tions their lordships at once proceeded to the consider-
ation of the report of amendments in the Poor Law
Guardians (Ireland) Bill. Certain amendments having
been inserted, the report was received.
CRIMINAL LAW (AMENDMENT) BILL.
Lord Beauchamp, in answer to Lord Mount-Temple,
stated that as the Criminal Law Amendment Bill
recently passed by their lordships was still before the
House of Commons, her Majesty's Government had no
intention to propose that a Royal Commission should
inquire into the expediency of further legislation for
tl.e protection of young girls. The Government appre-
ciated the importance of the subject, but if any further
inquiry was instituted it ought to be an inquiry on
cath, which one by a Royal Commission could not be.

HOUSING OF THE WORKING CLASSES.
On the motion for going into Committee on the
Housing of the Working Classes (England) Bill,
Lord Wemyss objected to the provision in the mea-
sure allowing the sale of public sites in the metropolis
for artisans' dwellings at less than those sites might be
disposed of for other purposes; to the provision that
limited owners might sell sites for the same purpose on
similar terms; and to the principle embodied in the
bill that the State might build houses for the working
classes. In his opinion the bill sanctioned Socialism in
the clearest form. His noble friend the Prime Minister
perhaps thought the bill would be of advantage to the
Conservative party.
Lord Milltown thought the bill went too far in respect
of the power given by it to limited owners.
Lord Salisbury observed that the bill was not a
Government measure. and if its object was to
obtain an advantage for the Conservative party Sir
Charles Dilke would scareely ha7e undertaken the
charge of it in the House of Commons.
r.l.lleic lordships then went into Committee on the
bill. —•

Oa the clause permitting the sale of sites of disused
prisms in the metropolis at less than the highest
mar ket price,
Lord Bramwell, on principles of political economy,
objected to that provision.
Lord Salisbury defended it on the ground that the
State by having passed demolition Acts had largely
contributed to overcrowding fn the metropolis, and
that the State was a large employer.
The bill passed through Committee after some dis-
cussion ; but Lord Wemyss gave notice that he should
feel it his duty to oppose the third reading.
THE LAND PURCHASE (IRELAND) BILL.
On the motion for the second reading of the land
Purchase (Ireland) Lill,
Lord Spencer said he had intended to make some
remarks on the bill as this stage, but as the hour was
ad% anced he wculd reserve them until the motion to go
into committee. _ _ _

Lord Castletown criticised various portions of the
bill, ard he was followed by Lord Denman, who thought
it would be very difficult to deal with this question in
A satisfactory manner. Lord Incliiquin having offered
some sugges'ions for making the bill more worirable,
Lord Ashboume said he would give his best con-
sideration to all amendments which might be put on
the paper, but he hoped they would be but very few.
The bill was then read a second time.
Several other bills having been advanced a stage,
Their lordships rose at a quarter past eight o'clock.
In the HOUSE ()B. CommNs Baron Ferdinand de
I.ethselaild took his seat for Aylesbury.