The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1868-05-19 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

MOWDAY.—A tenacious sense of duty. it LS to be pee.
cussed, caused Captain blaskinnou, as • new naval
reformer, to decline • request of Kr. Corry, not to let a
motion of his stand between committee of supply; and
the hon. and gallant gentlemen, in rather a racy—or, at
least, as original- style, went on to argue out a rase,
that though our iron-clod fleet hid oost ten millions
there was scarce • good ship amongst them, and that it
was impossible with our vessels to form a line of battle.
Next Mr. Sammie set forth a sort of remonstrance
against alleged favouritism in the selection of competitive
dmigits for ships asked from private builders by the
Admiralty. Not seeming to mind either of the censors
of his department, Mr. Corry replied with official
curtness ; and then, the House having gone into cow-
mines, he commenced the annual statement of the
navy estimates, ate date nearly three months later
than timid. His minuteness Of detail wee extreme;
and is he spoke in such tones as to suggest that he was
holding a confidential conversation with two gentlemen
on the front Opposition bench, it was only by match. s as
it were that it was generally ascertained that he was
saying that the nominal estimate for the year was
£11,177,290, the actual one £10,826,690; the nominal
increase over last year £201,037. but in fact only about
£9,000; that the number of men, including marinas,
was 67,120 this year, is against 03,762 last year; that
there had been a reduction of 15 ships and 2,768 men
in the squadrons on foreign service, while steamily
there bad been reduced 1.333 seamen proper and
1,500 matinee. Than he went carefully through
all the vote.; one statement in which particularly
excited attention, namely, that special examples
of turret ships were in coarse of oonstruotion.
It was noticeable that this country has now 44
ironclad ships, of which 11 are building; some of these
will be launched this year; and altogether 18 new
vessels of various kinds will in that period lit added to
our navy. There will be a reserve of 7 powerful
armoured ships. Naturally Mr. Childers was cordial in
his gratulatioes on • statement which, as he said, was
in psalm exposition of reforms which had been either
begun or suggested by the late Government. Never-
theism, he eat himself to exhume • number of short-
comings. some greet, some small, in the existing Ad-
miralty administration; and, in short, be delivered •
criticism on all points of Mr. Cony's statement almost
as minute and expansive as the statement itself.
He ended in a decisively practical way by pro-
posing • diminution of £60,000 in the payment
for 1141111 Moll and marines. The vivacity of Lord
Henry Lennox did not fail him in the rejoinder
which he made; and he met an inquiry of Mr.
Childers as to why the £100,090 estimated as the
sum which might be gained by the sale of "pig-iron" in
the dockyards had not been realised,by the simple state.
meat that, though the iron was worth all that money,
and bad boon duly offered for sale, no one had come to
boy. The object of the amendment being to reduce
the Rennes to 12,7(10 men, the point was duly discussed,
and a division took place, on which the original item
was carried by 127 to 73. On the whole vote being pat,
Colonel Sykes moved its reduction by £20,000, on
amount of the ease applied:de to the 'weal force
employed on the West Coast of Africa. The motion did
not receive any support, and was withdrawn. The vote
was agreed to, as well as that for victualling and sloth'
lug and progress was reported.
TUEISDAY.—At twenty minutes to five, while Sir
John Pakington was answeriug • question, a stir was
mused in the House by the apparition of Lord Royston.
Comptroller of the Household, radiant in blue and gold.
La soon al there was a panes, the noble lord stepped
Into the 'entre of the floor, just in front of the bar;
and, in audible tones, and with with good.rmaPht
read the answer of her Majesty to the address oontai
in Mr. Gladstone's mooed resolution on the Irish
Church, praying her Majesty to her interests in
the temporalities of that Ch at the disposal of
Parliament. The answer was as follows:—" I have
received your address praying that, with a view
to preventing by legislation during the present
session, the creation of new personal interests
by the exercise of public patronage, I would place
at the disposal of Parliament my interest in the tempo-
ralities,the Archbishopric., Bishoprics and other soiled-
eatical dignities and benefices of Ireland, and in the
austod_y thereof. Relying on the wisdom of.,
Fatima-
mant,L desire that my interest in the tempera/item of the
United Church of England and Ireland la Ireland may
not stand in the way of the consideration by Parliament
of any measure Mallen thereto that may be entertained
In the present sesmon"—(cheers).—Mr. Gladstone
instantly rose and pm notice that be should on the
following day move for leave to bring in a bill to earg
out his second resolution, that is, to arrest, fore limited
Pined. the exercise of any ecclesiastical petronsge in
Ireland.—With • certain sage and breadth of manner,
Er Mammy Lopes see about to induce the House to
declare that the existing burdens on real property are
impolitic and unjust.—Mr. McLaren asserted that the
land bore lass than its fair share of the bantam of the
taxation. In the time of Elisabeth the land was held
from the Crown oa the condition that the landowners
should provide all the fighting men of the country, and
should support the poor. Thom heathens were after-
wards commuted in the reign of William 111., for •
charge of 20 per meat, upon the rent of the land; hut
oven that obligation was now evaded. The man who
derived £l.OOO a year from land was in a much better
condition than ths physician who earned the same snin
IVY him' wart, beaus' when the landowner died his pro-
perty remained for the enjoyment of his children,
whereas when the physician died his income died with
him.—Mr. Liddell supported the motion, and reminded
the Home that select committees had time after time
condemned the principle of exempting personal property
from chargeability to the Poor-rates.—lfr Read men-
tioned an exemption of real property from local taxa-
I on whiob had not been noticed, namely, that an 011111 C

might, if he thought fit, so overstock his *state with
game and no deteriorate the rent of it as to allow tho
land to escape fair aussionent, and mo escape • fair eon-
tribution to the Milli Women). of the poor. He depreciated
national rating as inevitably leading to elartmagan"
and cantralination, though he thought further assistance
ems required from the Consolidated Fund in aid of local
rates. The subject was one more likely to receive just
and fair oonaideration at the han Is of • new Parliamoot
elected on lee household sulfirage.—Mr. Mill Hid the
subject was ono which deserved much mote systematic
consideration than it had yet received. Its importanoe
wM constantly increesing, because local taxation was
daily progressing. He admitted that reel property bore
an extra proportion of local taxation, but it by no mums
hoe all the Worthen. He thought the time had come
when the whole subject of lire' tatatioc should be eon.
sidered by Parliament In many cues the local tuition
hsd become so heavy that it war found difficult to carry
out 'anything for the improvement of the condition of
the People from Vs unwillingness of the ratepayers to
bear any further addition to their burthens.—Mr.
Floyer said there might be some fortunate priprielon
whom land had increased much in value in consequence
of the improved condition of the country at large; but
if an inquiry could be instituted into the expenditure of
landed proprietors it would be found that the return
for their outlay was very moderate, and much smaller
then was generally obtained by persons engeged in
trade. It should be remembered that not only did the
farmer pay on the half, the owner also paid on the
whole value of the holding ,• as that the land was, in
fact, taxed to the extent of one and a half, while the
orditiarj householder only paid on the full value once
told. Although it might be true that • certain portion
of the land was held on condition of kuight-service.
thou who served were paid for the time they spent
doing the King's behests, and it was a mistake to sup-
pose that such service was given gratis. Besides this,
much of the land was held, at the time to which the
ton. member (Mr. McLaren) referred, under free sauga•
The hon. member had, therefore, failed to make out
that in olden times merchants and manufacturers were
taxed less heavily than those who bad to do with the
land—(hear). It must be admitted that if grants from
the Imperial Treasury were mide to supplement local
hinds it would be dilScult to insist on local manage-
ment. The importance of maintaining local management
mold scarcely be euggerated—(hear, hear). He be.
limed the direction in whirl they should look for relief
was that of the Imperial Treasury, to obtain from it a
larger contribution towards some of those elpenier in
which the local action of the country or the local
occupiers had no personal or particular interest—he
alluded to the lunatio asylums, the police, and other
matters of impanel and general ieteress. In those
respects he thought that insistence fairly given from
the Imperial fends was absolutely *auntie', without
infringing on any el those groat and important prin-
ciples of local management—(bmar, hear).—Mr. Bolster.
Booth did not think that it would be convenient for the
house to affirm the motion. The exemptions from
rateability were very few, and otos of them—the toteano•
lion of government property—would soon have to be
dealt with. Indeed, the Chaacellor of the Exchequer
bad had some hopes of bringing in a measure upon the
subject, and with the exception of some of the palawn
and great pubiso ofiless, there meld he no reason why
the exemption of government property from rateability
should oontiono--(hear). As to the exemption caused
by the preservation of game, he believed the local
saseeson had so much power end freedom of motion,
that they could easily deal with that question, and
there was no reason why that exemption should
continue. With regard to the exemption of wines from
taxation, there was already a bill upon that subject
before the house. The esemption of timber from rate-
ability was • law important matter, end that also could
be dealt with. —Sir M. L thanked bon. members on
both sides of the house for the way in which they had
taken part in the disoursion. The hon. member for
(Mord said that • great deal of consideration was shown
So agriculturists in auesaing them only to the extent of
hid( their rent; but his experienee in farming was, that
there frequently was no profit—(a laugh)—whilst tradeis
returned what they pleased—though they did so ern-
, redly no doubt—(laughter). The act of Elizabeth
! referred only to the relief of the poor, and said nothing
about such things as county-rates and highway-rate.;
and as to the9e things it was certainly fair that other
property than real property should contribate.—The
motion was withdrawn.
WZDNMSDAT.—Mr. Ewsrt's measure for the adoption
of the metric system of weights and mauves was dig-
. cussed at great length, at the instances of Mr. Barmier&
, Hope, who moved its rejection in a speech which was
not unamusing in its way. So long indeed was the die-
cussioo that there might have been a suspicion of the
, common device of talking against time, though certainly
! members on both sides were equally respotuible for its
I extension. A suggestion of Mr. Cave, who expressed
I himself favourable to its principle, that the bill should
' be read a second .time on the understanding that it
should go no further until a commiasion now inquiring
into the subject should report, was accepted by Mr.
, F.wart ; but Mr. Hope forced on • division, iii which
I the second reading was carried by 217 to 65. It was
tot nty minutes to four ere Mr. Coleridge was enabled
to rise sail to more the second reading of Teats Aboli-
tion Bill, which is now amalgamated with the original
1 Tests Bill, which applied only to the universitiee at
I large, and Mn. Bouverie's measure of alike kind, which
was applicable to colleges only. So far there was •
' novelty about the meuure, which owing to its so
Ifrequent discussion in that House, it could not other.
' wise pomess. Of this, u well as of the recent organi.
lotion in the high Ones against it, Mr. Coleridge took
advantage to give • touch of freshness to • speech
which. as may be supposed, was characterised by his
great but unexaggerated powera of argument and charm
of language, illustration, and voice. The listening
audience, which bad scarcely Interrupted him by • stir,
broke into unalloyed applause as he concluded his rich
and graceful peroration. The force of contrast to the
steady spontaneous flow of the hon. gentleman could
hardly go farther than the pumping.up•end.down style
of Mr. Walpole. who moved the rejection of the hill
with a reproduction of the regulation arguments against
it, and which the greater part of • large lionle left to
the enjoyment of • select party of friends around him,
who cheered him with umelfish persistency. An
attempt was made by Mr. Fawcett, but the House
chose Mr. Winterbotbam, on the score of new member-
ship, who precoeded, with much point and fluency, to
tell • story of Parliamentonade dissent, the educational
penalties attached to which, it was not sought to
remove. The hon. gentleman received a very positive
aomptanee by the House, Sir William Heathoote, who
followed, apparently speaking the approval even of his
(the Conservative) side. Naturally, impatience was
manifested at Mr. Hubbard's efforta to continue the
discussion, as much from the fact of his speaking as
from some rather irritating remarks of which be was
delivered. If, at twenty minutes to six on • Wednes.
day, a member begins to speak, it is inevitable that
the debate should be arrested by aloe of time in five
minutes; and so it happened with the aid of Mr. Powell
now; and the discussion will have to be resumed
on some future occasion. There were just eight
minutes left to Mr. Gladstone to bring in his
Suapen.ory Bill. While he was doing so, Mr. Heyde-
gate roe* and objected to his proceeding; and,
therefore, by the rule, of the House, the right
bon. gentleman was prevented from bringing in his
bill.
THURISDAT.-011 the motion for going Into committee
on the Boundary Bill, tlx. Gladstone pointed out some
objections he bed to the measure. He did net like the
principle of the identity of the municipal and parlia-
mentary bounder.", and befell that in many cones an
intension of the boroughs would &ninthly many who
reside in the counties, and already enjoyed votes in
boroughs on socount of their places of business, es county
voters, lie thought it desirable to adopt the suggestion
of Mr. Ribbon, and leave out the cue of the old
boroughs, or those about which there was contention,
and confine their &natation at present to the considera-
tion of the cane of the new borough& Mr. Disraeli
was indisposed to act upon this suggestion. He did not
regard the question as • party one, and wished all the
supporters of the Government to understand that they
were perfectly free to consider each case upon in own
merita, and to decide according to their own convictions.
He conjured the House to support him in his endeavour
to settle the bill. Mr. Hibbert expressed his Intention
of persevering with his amendment. Mr. Bass and Mr.
Roebuck urged that the bill should be referred Is • select
committee. Mr. Russell-Gurney and Sir F. Cranky, on
the part of the Comminioners, declared that they had
no possible ablution to a select committee, and Mr.
Disraeli then assented to the bill being referred. The
House then went into Committee of Supply, when
revers' votes were agreed to. Then Mr. Gladstone
moved his Suspensory Bill without • word. Imme-
diately Colonel Stun Knox rose and signified his
intention of opposing the bill at evety stage. He began
to read en extract from some speech, and, blondenng
in his deliverance, be was greeted with shout, of
laughter, and sub loud cries demanding what and
whose lucubration' be was quoting from, that he
lost heart apparently, and, having faltered out that
it was from • speech of Mr. Gladstone, he
stopped short and moved that the bill
i be brought n that day six months. He
found • coadjutor in Mr. Newdegate, who put • series
of queries to the right hon. gentleman. Then Mr.
Gladstoue, giving • general denial to the statement
that the quotation was from neap/rub or writing of his,
and being Interrupeed by Colonel Knox, one of the
most significant shouts of disapproval conceivable
followed, and all became quiet while the provisions of
the bill were explained. A few wild words from Mr.
Vanes were concluded by advice to Colonel Loon to
" take any course he thought proper ;" which turned
out to be that 'the amendment was not pressed to •
obe::::da
division. It pleased Viscount Ingestre to signalise his
, should
of the
return to the House after a long absence by intimating&
and so had no Parliamentai
desire that • bill which had not yet been introdu4
euMi sir
lea el:
by the clerk at the table' and then, with curious boon
-
sequence,
in
cleared
de
agreedb f
rto beingad,
division.
amidst
renseberserythassrlee:trtalce7l,:tgNilbedloehlirtdmkbeibvfthitwhlnoil;kl
bseepmbuyedt. theotonemNidn.ryod t The question
"no," was
as
lusty
cheer from the Opposition. Mr. Gladstone then came
to the table, and reed the extract denouncing all
' attempts at touching the Irish Church which Colonel
Knox had attribated to him, and showed that it was
taken from • speech delivered by Mr. Whiteside. The
rota of laughter which followed this remiukable
discovery may be conceived, but not described. Some-
thing—what, exactly, one cannot say —was uttered by
Colonel Knox, which called forth loud min of "Shame I"
and "Chair P and there was confusion of tongues. An
effort made by Colonel Greville-Nngent to induce
Colonel Knox to state how he come to make so
unworn • mistake or miarepresentatiou failed to
produce an answer, and there was more confusion.
was read
ith an
mpaulmeut
wac
•
hat It
cided
hat
s was an
ed
t hIP
eer from two
, heartybl:rb
tnni
geyfriaiihrt hpmt: first
y.
b!orri table;
an—imrt o
practise, or.dmen we
and thin
onte
dinos Sp
Mr. Serjesat
esker
ja 'pel
surprise
else. Friday, 22nd, was named for the second reading,
Arniu
ng
gave
be fixed
vening
ere may
been
rate
orsintt seLanditedreadingi,
to
otimaion chosen by
se, In good set
was no such .
terms, of • vote of want of confidence in the Ministry,
amtheawhdh:::fliobeldlaulth°7°Oprip.i
thut he haliefare
but
hosen agent 1*
sentaneous applause from them as le indicate that the
learned gentleman was the deliberately
rose, and, in a toss ol candour and good Win, beadily

apologised to lie. Gladstone for having attributed to
hint the eztenct from a speech which was, in facto Mr.
Whiteside's. From the hon. gentleman's explanation,
that be bad been supplied with the 'street by • good.
natured friend, and used it without verifying it with
Hansard, it would appear that he was boozed. A kw
eenerous words of acknowledg were spoken by
Mr. ...Redstone, as of course. Somehow Sir Henry
Edwards was not satisfied with them; for he began
a special eulogy on the manly conduct of big
meet
gallant friend, which was unfortunately out short
peremptorily by the Speaker. In reply to an inquiry of
Mr. Hayter, whether Chief Justice Bovill had appointed
his son, an .z-lieutenent of Lancers, to the clerkship of
assize of the western circuit, Mr. Attorney-General very
elaborately sought to show that for ever so long these
places were filled by the sons or relative, of judges ;
adding that at this moment the associates of the three
superior courts were the sons of two thief justices and a
chief bsron. As to legal qualification, there was no
nerd of that, as the function was purely administrative;
beside' which, Mr. Bovill was actually studying for the
bar. However, Mr. Hayter was so far unsatisfied that
he intends to move the rejection of the item in the
estimates which gives the salary to the ollioe in question.
The lint Friday evening motion, on going into supply,
was one by Sir Colinan O'Loghlen, demanding the
erection of • Royal Palace in Ireland, and frequent
residence therein by the Sovereign. The ariument
urged by the bon. gentleman and other Irish members,
and indeed by one or two English ones, was that the
presence of Royalty in Ireland would not only rouge and
perpetuate the loyalty of the people, but wool I prove
a panacea for all the sufferings of the mister island.
With ueat, gravity, and apparently with a full apprecia-
tion of the ("tree of the argument, Mr. Diaraelegooepted
the idea ; but, on the genre of convenience, asked that
It. carrying out should be postponed, ant in this Mr.
Gladstone concurring, the motion was withdrawn.
Rather a crucial question, and rather crucially put and
illustrated, came from Mr. Bouverie, who wanted to
know how the Gov, rnment meant to manaze the
registrations, so as to enable an election under the new
constituencies in November. He went into minute
details to show that this could hardly be done, and
therefore that the result of the great Opposition
majorities and the Ministerial crisis would be, possibly,
• meeting of Parliament in mid-Decesuber, which was
really only what the Government meant to bring about
before the crisis. It was by a technical statement, I
turning principally on special advancement of dates of
the proceedings necessur, to registration, that the
Solicitor-General sought to show that the idea of the
Government might well be realised. The stun of his
statemsnt was that the registration might be sompleted
by 20th Octobpr, and as election Ulm. place at the and
of that month. Even if this eould be, it was shown by
Sir R. Collier that there could be no meeting of • new
Parliament before 25th November, which did fulfil the
idea of an autumn session, as held out by Mr. Disraeli.
According to Mr. M'foren, there is no difficulty in
completing the registration in Scotland by let November;
and, if so, why not in England, urged be. Subsequently
t the Civil Service &Imaged were carried on in committee
supply,