The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-07-10 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

In the ROUSE OF LORDS, July 5, Lord Enfield gave notice
that on Monday next he would introduce a Census Bill.
Lord Fortescue called attention to the Report of the
Joint Committee of the War Office and Civil Service Corn-
hlissioners on supplementing the literary examinations
for the army by physical competition. This principle,
the noble Earl remarked, was not new, it having been
adopted in the scientific corps, and he hoped the Govern-
tient would extend it to the other corps. His strong desire
In pressing the question on their Lordship's attention, was
to.see the English army, which was bu a small one, im-
proved to the utmost possible point of excellence.
Lord Dorchester went so strongly with Lord Fortescue that
he thought riding would be a useful acquirement for naval
°Meer&
Lord Enfield for the Civil Service Commissioners, gave a
history of the question under discussion, and stated as their
conclusion that while they were favourable to a physical
competition and thought there were no paramount difficul-
ties in the way of its introduction, they felt that they ought
to take no steps in the matter unless they were adequately
auPPorted not only by the authorities at the Horse Guards
and the War Office but by public opinion.
Lord Morley pronounced the scheme embodied in the
RePort unnecessary, undesirable, and so impracticable that
it would be almost impossible to carry it out.
The Duke of Cambridge also maintained that there was no
necessity for it, and that in many cases there would be a dis-
advantage in imposing the tests suggested. As it was, this
country could boast of a very superior class of officers, whose
Phißique and athletic attainments were, as a rule, almost
After a few remarks from Lords Bury and Hylton, the sub-
-sect dropped.
,Lord Spencer moved the second reading of the Elementary
x•aucation Bill, the object of which was to enforce school at-
.tendance throughout the country. The noble Earl observed
that though there had been a greatly increased attendance
aulce the passing of the Act of 1870, there was still accom-
modation for a large number of children who did not attend
and were not under any bye-laws. A considerable propor-
tion of these belonged to the rural parishes; and in order to
Meet the requirements of the case, the Bill provided that if
the School Coanuittee did not pass bye-laws before the end
of the year thMouncil of Education should do it for them.
,The Duke of Somerset suggested that the magistrates
aeould exercise a merciful discretion in the case of poor
Parents who had not time to look closely after the attend-
ance of their children at school.
The Duke of Richmond and Gordon approved the Bill,
Which was closely on the lines of one which he had himself
PtoPosed,
The Bill was read a second time, and some other Bills were
advanced a stage.
Their Lordsh
'clock. ips adjourned at twenty minutes to ei gh
o
In
the HOUSE OF COMMONS, Mr. Norwood gave notice o
las intention to ask Mr. Gladstone whether, as he has re-
• to bring in a Bill to alter the law relating to affirma-
-11005, he will instruct the Law Officers to defend Mr.
i_
a,suaugh if he is prosecuted for penalties.
/Y. Lawson asked the Under Secretary of State for the 1
sta• ""les whether the failure of the South African Confedera-
" scheme as altered the view of the Government with ,
-`gard,,to the retention of Sir Bartle Frere at the Cape.
4,24-1% Gladstone: As I have made a full statement in
ste Rouse on the subject, it is, perhaps, convenient that I
onld reply. Her Majesty's Government have received
;nth vet"' great concern the intelligence which has arrived
•IPta the Cape showing that the proposals of the Cape
'4nistry for the promotion of confederation among the
10nies
_have been frustrated. lam aware that that fact
7,^1. a senous bearing upon the statement I addressed to the
r°Use on an early day of this Session, but it is not possible
for the Government, from the succinct telegraphic notices
that have arrived, to form any mature judgment on the cir-
finnstances, and consequently all I can say is that when the
l4BPatches giving a full account of the matter have arrived
" eY will have our full and serious consideration.
Sir J. M`Garel•Hogg asked the First Lord of the Treasury
Whether his attention had been called to the condition of
the gold currency, and wbether it was proposed to take
Lne,lni to withdraw from circulation worn coins which were
gm, the current weight
Mr. Gladstone.—My attention has been called to the con-
if t ition of gold currency, which lam aware is unsatis-
fl
„trot?. My hon. friend will also be aware that the ques-
on is serious, and entails consequences which might not
,t,tefirst sight appear to belong to it—that is, that it involves I
? consideration of the whole question of the Burn-
ItelicY or insufficiency of the premises of. the present Mint,
IC whether it is desirable to delegate ta private persons
Of
the
not take the Royal currency. If that delegation can-
e place, then comes the question of the removal of present Mint I these circumstances my hon. friend
!will not think me• n' •
unras eonable when I say that, though the
u..nblect requires early consideration, it will not be possible
...
decide it during the continuance of the Session. (Hear.)
Jll answer to a question from Mr. Baxter, Lord Hartington
sale the total excess expenditure of the Afghan war had been
•scertained to he about £9,000,000, of which £3,370,000 would
stave to be provided in the year 1880-81.
The suljoluased debate on the Irish Disturbance Bill was
xestuned by
Lord R. Churchill, who contended that it was not a tem-
CrarY Measure for the relief of distress, but the commence-
_ eat of a campaign against landlords, who were to de-
4trived of the means of meeting their difficulties. Be con-
sidered that nothing in the condition of Ireland warranted
.:11ch a measure. It was brought in with the object of tempera-
-1 rendering the government of jreland easier, without a
'"uoght of her future welfare.
Mr. Gladstone admitted that the Bill was exceptional in
Its circumstances, but it did not deserve the inflammatory
rases which had been applied to it. So far from being an
attack on property, its main object was to enable the State
with a safe conscience to use its strength to maintain the
~,
-,,"ghta of property and to enforce the provisions of the law.
the desire to obtain by it the support of a
"`-'"'11„ ienlar party, the right hon. gentleman urged that it was
„
Itc;-essarY to sanction exceptional legislation of this character
_meet peculiar circumstances. The Land Act, he asserted,
benefited both landlords and tenants, but by a
!niece ession of bad harvests the tenant had been reduced to
position he occupied before 1870. By the act of God he
1,,.ac,t. been en deprived of all his means of subsistence, and it was
•.c7; tAeriower of a handful of had landlords to pass sentence
on on him, which was equivalent to a sentence of
death.
owlle admitted that to justify such a measure it must
earltane tahat the necessity was strong, that the remedy was
every elrre Ilagtta and limited to the necessity, and that
a dangerousa ""en taken not to be drawn unawares into
rtrneirdent, erecedent. As to the dang,er of setting a
ted both e Pointed out that the Bill was strictly
reininded the „Itosuto time, area, and subject matter, and
,eniergeney Was 0 that the exceptional character of the
been adopted 'arianir, PIY recognised by the measures which had
rnenta• Am proposed in the late and present Fulda-
' • Among other exceptional features of these measures,
contributed b
ne pointed out
of the landl that a gift of no less than £BOO,OOO had been
Y he State and the Church Fund for the benefit
Tiouse to ord and tenant Finally, he appealed to the
pass the Bill as the best means of defeating the
ligitatn, of maintaining the principle of property,
and °f Promoting the interests of all classes.
A. ve
jimii 17 long debate followed, in which Mr. 3farum, Mr.
eY, Sir H. Bruce, Mr. Nelson, Mr. W. Cartwright, Mr.
Z:tozPatrick, Mr. Brand, Mr* Arnold, Colonel Kingscote, and
Ml Gibson took part.
Tit* Marquis of Hartington reminded the House that
When 14t opposition he had never said a word to encourage
agitatiorr or dangerous land proposals, and assured them
that nothiiN but the conviction of those responsible for the
Peace of Irejessid would induce him to assent to an extension
the Land ANL The operation of that Act was about
to be inquired into, but in the meantime it was the
duty of the Gov,Sritment to see that its main object
Wa_as not defeated V an exceptional state of circum-
4.‘ances, the operation a which was net foreseen.
•"'" sticcession of bad seasons, by depriving the tenants of
their means, he remarked, had ?laced in the hands of land-
lords a power which the Land Act did not intend they
should possess of clearing their estates and consoli-
Lla,ting holdings, and one object was to prevent this
..ng done. Another object was to compel the landlord
1.49 exercise his rights with moderation; and if the Bill
Went beyond these objects, the Irish Secretary would
she ready to consider any amendments which might
be suggested. The alarm felt in Ireland was greatly exag-
gerated, for it was monstrous to suppose that tenants who
could pay their rents would run the risk of eviction. But
above all, he said, it was impossible for the Government to
Carry out the law with firmness unless It was satisfied that
it was acting in obedience to right and justice, and it was in
order that the Executive Government might have that con-
viction that the Bill was introduced.
Sir S. Northcote said he objected not only to the Bill, but
to the manner in which it was introduced, and to the argu-
raents by which it was supported, more especially that it was
11..„!_cessary in order to prevent something like a social war.
...,"Loe Land Act had been accepted as a settlement, and to
mill. taut it now on the grounds assigned would seriously
anetke confident*.
In closing the debate, lir. Forster denied that he or any
tieraber of the Government had stated that without this
. ill the peace of Ireland could not be preserved. They had
Satroduced it because they wished to be able to enforce the
‘!!' with a good conscience, and believed that if they did
510 t Make this amendment they would have to enforce a
Quit was not altogether just.
• a division the House passed the second reading of the
by 295 to 217—a majority for Government of 78.
e other Orders were disposed of, and the House
'''Jolirned at five minutes to two o'clock.

the new scheme of the Charity Commissioners
aj4ntion the HoosE OF LORDS, July 6, Lord Winmarleigh Called
,Ke to
ley the Grammar School of Kirkham. He explained that,
tw_ncereas hitherto 80 out of the 100 boys attending the school
eived their education free, under the new scheme a sum
not less than £4 and not more than £8 a year was to be
,chargeti
of. ior each boy. This change was much complained

men educated in our national schools differed greatly from
that of the noble viscount. He had had opportunities of
forming an opinion upon their powers of reading, spelling,
and calculating. There were some who-read as well as, and
even better than, the sons of gentlemen of the same age,
and who certainly spelt better than the sons of gentlemen
with whom he had of late years comb in contact. He
believed that the education given by the National schools
in reading, writing, and arithmetic was at least as
good as that received by the higher classes. But in that
matter the interest of children in the rural districts
ought to be considered as much as that of children in
towns. And if an easy transition was not made possible
between the primary and secondary schools, a great mis-
take would be made. He would bring before the House
knowledge which he had acquired as one of the University
Commissioners. He found that by means of scholarships
and exhibitions many boys of the poorest classes were
enabled to support themselves in their progress through the
different grades of schools, and these boys were ascertained
by a process of what might be called natural selection; and
if in their primary schools reading, writing, and arithmetic
were efficiently taught, and something more also, such boys
would be encouraged to pass from the elementary to the
higher schools. It would be a mistake to draw a hard and
fast line which might have the effect of excluding the most
promising boys from the secondary schools. The elementary
schools would be most useful if the inspectors could succeed
in maintaining efficiency in reading, writing, and arithmetic,
with some knowledge of higher subjects.

Lord Norton again asked whether the extracts for which
he asked could be furnished.

Earl Spencer said that the reports would be laid upon the
table in the usual course, but objected to making extracts
from them.

Their Lordships adjourned at ten minutes past seven.
In the HOUSE OF Commons, at the Morning Sitting, in
answer to Mr. P. Taylor, Mr. Peel said that the history
of the use of the plank bed in prisons was shortly this :--A
select committee of the Lords reported in 1863 that the use
of plank beds similar to the guards' bed in military prisons
should be resorted to during short sentences and the earlier
stages of long confinements. In the Prison Act of 1865 there was
an enactment to the effect that a convicted criminal prisoner
might be required to sleep on a plank bed without mattress
during such time as might be determined by the rules of
the prison. The fact of this plank bed having been almost
universally used since 1865 might be taken to indicate that
it had been found to answer its purpose. The Secretary of
State gave orders in 1878 that women, men over 60, and
children under 13 should have a pillow and a mattress of
some other material. The use of plank beds was regu-
lated by the rules of the Commissioners of Prisons laid
upon the table on the 19th of February, 1878. Rule 16 was
to the effect that a convicted criminal prisoner should
during the whole of his sentence, when it did not exceed
one month, and during one month when the sentence
exceeded that term, be required to sleep on a plank bed;
that the prisoner should be allowed to earn a remission
in that respect after one month, but that he should forfeit
that remission ou account of idleness, inattention to in-
struction, or misconduct.

After some further preliminary business, the third day's
debate on the Employers' Liability Bill was resumed by Mr.
Warton, who urged the reference of the Bill to a Select Com-
mittee, contending that the House was incompetent to deal
with the multifarious interests concerned, which could not
be submitted to one uniform rule.

Sir E. Watkin also thought that the Bill should go before
a Select Committee, and insisted that the Government
ought to state its view on Mr. Macdonald's amendment in
favour of the complete abolition of the doctrine Qf
common employment.
After some observations from Mr. H. Palmer and Mr. S.
Hill, Mr. Macdonald's amendment having been withdrawn,
Mr. Knowles moved to refer the Bill to a Select Committee,
with instructions to the Committee to consider whether
efficient provision cannot be made for all persons injured,
and for the widows and orphans of those killed, by an in-
surance fund, contributed to by masters and workmen.

Mr. Chamberlain opposed the Motion, and said the appre-
hensions of employers were greatly exaggerated. More
drastic legislation might be demanded hereafter if this Bill
was rejected. Compulsory insurance he regarded as imprac-
ticable.

After some discussion, in which Mr. H. Vivian, Mr
Schreiber, Mr. Wiggin, Sir H. Giffard, and Mr. M'lntyre took
part,
Mr. Gladstone, while opposed to referring the Bill to a
Select Committee, appealed to the House as men of business
whether the question was not now ripe for decision. As
to insurance, no well-digested plan had ever yet been forth-
coming.

On a division, Mr. Knowles's amendment was negatived by
259 to 130, and the debate on going into Committee was
again further adjourned.
On the Motion for going into Committee on the Customs
and Inland Revenue Bill,
Mr. Gladstone said he only proposed that the House
should go into Committee pro forma, and he had just time,
before the Speaker left the chair, to state the changes which
would take place. The regulation clauses would be amended
in detail. The exemption would be reduced to £lO, and
farmers' land would not be included. The allowance for waste
would be 6 per cent.; the collection would be monthly; the
standard would be 57 for duty, and likewise for drawback
on exports. The deduction from the presumptive charge
would be 4 per cent. The drawback to the misters
would be paid in one sum. The private brewer would
be allowed to brew only on his own premises The
wine duty clauses would be dropped. The billiard-room
keeper would stand exactly as he did now. The
i
relief to hotels would not apply n those cases where
hotels, in a separate part of the premises, have a public.
house business. The composition for stamp duties on trans-
fers of municipal stock would be fixed at a lump sum of
12s. 6d. instead of Bd. per annum. In a separate Committee
of the whole House a resolution would be submitted for rais-
ing the duty on public-houses, according to scale, at £,5 per
£lOO, rating from £lOO upwards, instead of stopping, as the
Bill did at present, at £lOO.
The House then went into Committe on the Billpro forma,
and progress was immediately reported.
The sitting was suspended at seven o'clock.
At tlie Evening Sitting Mr. Trevelyan moved a resolution
to provide for a reduction in the number of generals on
active service.
Mr. Childers said the Government were earnestly desirous
to place the service on a satisfactory footing, and he gave
such assurances as induced the hon. member for the Border
Burghs to withdraw his resolution.
The House was subsequently counted out at twenty-five
minutes past twelve o'clock on a motion by Mr. R. Paget in
reference to the Maintenance of High Roads.