The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-05-02 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

THE CHURCH firairutriok BILL.
In the HOMO', Loans, April 27, the Duke of Marlborough
appealed to the Archniehop of Canterbury to postpone the
second reading of his bill relating to the better enforcement
et the laws regulating theme nervice in the Church, in order
that Convocation and the niergy might have ample opportu-
nity of considering the measure winch involved many points
of a serious and novel character.
The Archbishop of Canterbury was most unwilling the
there should be any undue ii,te hf ressing forward the bill.
NM would be very sorry if the clergy had not the fullest op-
portunity of considering the matter, and of addressiug their
lordships' House In favour of or against the bill. The three
days which Convocation have at Its disposal would be prac-
tically enough to enable the clergy to assemble and con-
sider the matter and take such steps as they might think
right The matter was not new to the clergy. und Con-
vocation had already decided that steps should be taken to
deal with the existing evils. The right rev prelates were of
.ipinion that it was very desirable that there should be
legislation as soon as possible upon this subject, and that
if than, was to be no legislation. they should have a distinct
expression on the part of Parliament that they did.pot wish
to interfere in the matter.
The Marquis of Bath considered the statement of the most
rev prelate to be most unsatisfactory ; for not merely Con-
vocation but the clergy who were scattered throughout the
,;onntry ought to have an opportunity of considering the
rovisions of a measure which would bind them hand and
root and east them helpless at the feet of the right rev.
prelates.
The Lord Chancellor suggested that, an the bill stirred the
minds of great masses of the people, the second reading
might properly be postponed foes few clays beyond the time
at present fixed for its consideration.
The Archbishop of Canterbury. in connequence of this
suggestion, consented to postpone the second reading of the
bill
GENERAL MANAGEMENT Op RAILWAYS.
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Lord Do La Warr next moved an Address to Her Majesty 1
praying for the appointment of a Royal Commission to in- I
quire into the Working and General Management of Rail-
ways, and to report upon the causes of accidents, the best
means for their prevention, and whether further legislation
was necessary. lie observed that railway accidents, many
of which were traceable to preventable causes, had increased
to an alarming extent in late years. and that, as the bill on
the subject introduced by him last year wan nit proceeded
with, he thought it was now desirable to inquire into the
whole question of the working of railways by means of a
Royal Commission. He believed that the neglect of proper
appliances by Railway Companies and the overworking of
their servants were among the chief causes of railway acci-
dents, and that one great means of preventing them would
be the duplication of the lines
Lord Houghton conceived that it would lie unathisable
for the House to adopt the motion, and expressed his belief
that all such means for insuring safety in railway travelling
as were approved by the best engineers were in the course
of adoption by the present Railway Boards, for it was to the
interest of Railway Companies that their lines should be
well managed. To interfere with Railway Companies by
legislation such as that now proposed was impolitic.
The Duke of Richmond was of opinion that no subject was
more important than the one under diseussion, which hail
reference to the best means of securing safety to all classes
of the people. for all classes travelled lay railway. The public
mind had beep very much agitated by the number of railway
accidents, and when the present Government came into
office the subject of railway accidents was one of the first
things they took into consideration. They did not, however,
see their way at the present moment to legislation but he
should be prepared to accept the motion before the House it
the proposal were limited to an inquiry into the causes of ac-
cidents on railways, and the possibility of removing such
causes by further legislation.
The Duke of Somerset pointed out the necessity for in-
creased Station accommodation, in consequence of the
Increased traffic on railways, and, instead of issuing a new
Railway Commission, thought that the Commission estab-
lished last year. consisting of three paid members, alto
seemed at present to have very little to do, might be
utilised by being employed in conducting the inquiry now
proposed
Lord Carlingford said that causes of accidents were well
known, and they arose from the want in many cases of proper
appliances' for insuring safety in railway travelling, for in
ninny cases the traffic had outgrown the means formerly
adopted for safe conveyance. Almost every accident of late
hod occurred from a goods train passing along at the time
when a pil.senger train ought to have been expected, and
what was touted for securing safety was au increase of ac-
commodation for the traffic. He did not find fault with the
Governraert for taking further time before proposing to legis-
late on the subject, and he saw great difficulty in carrying
out the Duke of Somerset's suggestion that the Commission
appointed last year should inquire into the matter.
Lord Salisbury thought that Railway Companies could
hardly be asked to go to the immense expense of duplicating
their tunnels and bridges, and pointed out that in legislation
this kind there was the danger that whatever might be
Slid down by Parliament would have to be worked by other
and perhaps hostile hands. There W as, however, one thing
at least which might well be insisted on, and that was that
Railway Companies should observe punctuality in conformity
with their awn " time tables.-
- • •• -

...
The motion, amended as suggested by the Duke o
Richmond, was agreed to.
The remaining business being disposed of, their lordship,
adjourned.