The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-03-02 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

In the House of Lords, Feb. 28, the Joint Committee on
Railways Amalgamation was appointed, en the motion of
Lord Cowper, after a brief discussion of the terms of refer-
ence mid the objects of the committee.
Their lordahips adjourned at a quarter to sic
la the House of Commons, Sir NV. Lawson gave notice that
on going into Committee of Supply on the Army Estimates
he would move :—"That in the opinion of this House the
time had arrived for a material reduction in the number of
our laud forces.'
Mr. W. 52 Forster gaviVecti2e that when the motion of the
hon member for wirmingham on the subject of the Edu-
cation Art was brought forward, he should move : --" That
in the opinion of this House, the time that has elapsed
since the paasing of the Education Act, 1870, and the pro-
gress which has been made in making the arrangements
under it, are ret such as to enable the House with advantage
to enter upon a review of its provisions."
Mr. Corry stated that on going into Committee of Supply
on the Army Estimates he would move that the organisa-
tion of the Admiralty as settled by the Order in Council of
January, IStie, has tended to the disadvantage of the naval
service, and requires reconsideration by the Government.
Mr. Cardwell, replying to Mr. Nlacee, said that the Govern-
ment did not consider that the time tail arrived for them
to propose any sum in the estimates for the defence of Leith
ant the Firth of Forth.
Mr. Gladstone, replying to Mr. B. Cochrane, said that the
communications which had been received from foreign
Governments and from our diplomatic agents abroad on the
subject of the International were of a confidential charac-
ter, and could not therefore be laid upon the table of the
House.
Lord Cleho asked the Chairman of the Metropelitan Board
of Works what was the number and the tidal estimated cost
of the seats to be erected in various places for the accommo-
dation of the members of the Metropolitan Board, and
of the vestrymen of the metropolis, on the occasion of
the National Thanksgiving in the metropolitan Cathe-
dral out of what rate the costs of these seats is to
be defrayed, and whether this expenditure will appear
under the heading of "General Precepts," which amounted
last year to £99,391 les. 641., or under that of
" Dangerous Structures Act," which amounted to £32 7.
Hear, hear," and laughter.) The noble lord said he
should further ask whether the chairman's attention had
been called to an advertisement, stating that one of the seats
referred to could be had on payment of three guineas
(" Hear, hear," and 'Oh.") Also, whether the chairman
was correctly reported in Saturday's papers as having said at
the nieeting of the Board of Works—(" Order ")—he was
perfectly in older --(hear, hear—whether the chairman
stated that the Lord Chamberlain had given a ticket of ad-
mission to St. Paul's for each member of the Bused and a
lady. (Hear, hear.) •
Mr. Bernal Osborne: I hope the hon member the chair-
man of the Metropolitan Board of Works will forgive me for
putting to him a supplementary question. Do the tickets
for the streeteres include refreshments? ((treat laughter.)
eel. Hogg replied that the number of seats provided
by the Board was about 7,550—(" Oh, oh"—and the total
cost, as far as could be estimated, about £3,400. (('ries
of "Oh," and laughter.) The cost would be defrayed out
of the Metropolitan Consolidated Rate—(reitewed cries
of " Oh"—and would be placed under the heading which
the Hoard should determine at the end of the financial
year. (Laughter.) As to whether the cost would be placed
under the heading " dangerous structures," if the noble lord
looked at those in question, he would call them "beautiful
structures." The advertisement mentioned had been
brought to his notice, and he thought it was a most improper
one, and ahould punish its author if discovered. He had
been correctly reported in the papers ; the Lord Chamber-
lain had given 104 tickets for it, Pants to the board, and
some for its officers. Regarding the last question, at one
structure there would be a booth, and there everybody who
liked could refresh himself—if he paid for Ids refreshment.
Laughter.)
Mr. Gladstone, answering a question from Mr. Johnston,
stated that the Government did not intend to grant ex-
Goyertior Eyre a pension or to give hint a new appointment
" Crown.

under

Mr. G. Bentinck brought before the House, as a matter of
Privilege, a recent article in a London daily journal, which
charged the late Speaker, Mr. Gladstone, and his "Whip,"
Mr. Glyn, with something like a conspiracy to "gag debate"
by means of a "Speakers' List," concocted in concert with
the Opposition Whip, on which were Inscribed on the occa-
sion of every Important debate the names of members who
alone were to be allowed to speak.
The Speaker held that there was nothing in the nature of
Privilege iu the complaint ; but, speaking for himself, he had
never seen a so-called "Speakers List," and on au occasions
he should conduct a debate with a desire to act fairly and
Impartially, and to allow every settien of opinion to lind
expression.
Mr. Gladstone said that neither he nor Mr. Glyn was cog-
nizant of any tech list; but on Mr. Bentinck expressing his
surprise at this answer, and wishing to hear a disclaimer
from the two "Whips," Mr. Glyn and Mr. Noel stated that,
tor the convenience of the late Speaker, and at his
desire, they had been In the habit of fur-
nishing him with the names of gentlemen on their
respective sides who desired to take part in any
important debate. Both repudiated the idea of stilling
debate or silencing the " independent members,"
and Mr. Glyn added that he was very glad to hear
from the Speaker that the practice would come to an
end. Mr. Gladstone, in defending the late Speaker, re-
marked that it would have been wiser to make the accusation
while he was still in the chair ; and Mr. D.sraeli said that
the late Speaker had often consulted him as to the coarse of
important debates, and he himself had always done his best
to develope the oratorical powers of the Conservative party.
Particularly Le had striven to afford a vent to the '• smoul-
dering emotions" below the gangway, knowing that mattera
would proceed much more agreeably afterwards.
The House then took up and spent the remainder of the
evening in discussing the resrlutions proposed Ly the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer, with amendments by other mem-
bers, for facilitating the pro,ress of business. The first of
these related to the privilege possessed by every member of
taking notice of the presence of "strangers" and clearing
the House.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer proposed to alter the
practice, so that the llouse shall not he cleared except after
a motion to that effect has been put and carried without
debate.
Mr. llouverie pointed out that this change would vest a
powerful instrument in the hands of those who wished for
delay, and suggested, if there were a change, that the Mouse
should not be cleared unless twenty members demanded it.
After some discussion, the Chaacellor of the Exchequer, on
the part of the Government, accepted Mr. Bouverie's pro-
posal, but eventually the decision was postponed for further

consmeration.
The next resolution moved by the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer provides that on Mondays, when Supply is
taken first, the House shall go at once into Conunittee
without any of the usual preliminary motions, with
this exception, that on the first night of each
division of the Estimates one motion germane to it
may be made. sir H. Selwin-Ibbetson met it by
an amendment that the whole subject be referred to a Select
Committee. On n division, however, the llouse negatived
Sir 11. Selwin-lblietson's motion to refer the subject back to
a Select Committee by 152 to 120.
The resolution was then carried by 132 to 90, and the other
resolutions were postponed.
The other business having been disposed of, the House
adjourned.

In the House of Commons, Feb. 98, Lord Elcho gave notice
that on the 19th March he would move a resolution relative
to the conduct of public business in the House.
.

Mr. Dodds, in moving the second reading of the Salmon
Fisheries Bill, alluded to the opposition which had been
raised against it, and expressed his opinion that the interests
of the persons represented by the hon. member for Swansea
(Mr. Dilwyn), who had Introduced a second bill, might have
been fairly dealt with by amendments to the measure now ,
before the House. The bill which he had introduced dif-
fered from that of the hon. member for Swansea in that
it was based upon the recommendations of the Select Com.
mittee. It proposed to confer upon the Secretary of State
power to alter and re-combine fishery districts, and to form
fresh boards of conservation. These boards would be re-
presentative bodies elected every three years, by means of
voting papers. They would consist of from six to thirty
members, a third of whom would be elected by the license
payers in the tidal portion, and one-third by the license
prayers in the non-tidal portions of the river, and one-
third by the riparian owners. In order to facilitate
fishery improvements the bill proposed that the
board should have power to levy a rate not exceeding in
any one year 25 per cent. of the sum paid for license duty.
It further proposed a new schedule of license duties, an
imposed penalties on taking salmon without a license. The
Board of Conservators acre also empowered to mass bye
laws for the protection of salmon, and the improvement of
the fisheries within their district, and to inquire into the
legality of all artificial obstructions to the passage of fish.
In certain cues where there was not a sufficient fish passthey
I would have power to order a fish way to be made at the
owner's expense. The hon. member concluded by describing
in detail the machinery by which the provisions of the bill
would be carried out.
- • •

---
Mr. Walsh moved that the bill be read a second time that
day six months, which amendment was seconded by Mr.
W. N. 'lodge. m.
Mr. Leeman suggested that both the hills upon this subject
should be read a second time, and referred to a select com-
mittee ; and after a rather long discussion Mr. Dodds inti-
mated his willingness to refer his bill ton select committee.
The House then divided—For the second reading, 100.
against, 122 ; majority against, 13. The bill was therefore
rejected.

Mr. Dillwyn moved the second readini: of the Salmon
Fisheries (No. ti) Bill, and Mr. M Mahon moved as an amend-
ment that the bill be read a second time that day six months,
which amendment was seconded by Mr. Stevenson.

Mr. Dodds then moved the adjouniment of the debate, and
on the question being put, the motion for the second read-
ing of the bill was agreed to without a division, Mr. Dodds
giving notice that on the motion to go into committee upon
It, he should move that the House go into committee that
day six months.
Mr. Heron moved the second reading of the Local
Legislation (Ireland) (No. 2) Bill, but at the suggestion of
the Marquis of Hartingt...n the second reading was postponed
until the discussion on the subject of local legislation, of
which the Chairman of Committees had given notice, should
have taken place, and the Government had had an °ppor
tunity of introducing the measure which they had promised
to deal with the matter.

I titled

The Marriage (Society of Friends) Bill was read a third
time, and passed.
Mr. Morrison obtained leave to bring in a bill to make pro-
vision for proportional representation of the people, and
otherwise amend the laws relating to the representation
of the people in England and Wales; Sir Dominic Corri-
gan, a bill to extend to the whole of Sunday the present
restrictions on the sale of beer and other fermented or dis-
tilled liquors in Ireland Mr. Ayrton, a hill ta enlarge the
powers of the Epping Forest Commissioners, and for other
purposes : Mr. Heron, a bill to amend the law of evidence,
and a bill to amend the laws relating to Tithe Rent-charge
In Ireland, and the House then ruljdurned.