The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-01-30 00:00:00

THE ADDRESS.

On the debate on the Address being resumed,
Mr. Hunter moved an amendment deprecating the
application of the revenues of India to defraying the
cost of the Burmese Expedition.
The Attorney-General defenaecl the action of the
Government.
Mr. Gladstone said he did not think the House could
approach the question satisfactorily by a division on
an amendment which did not touch the merits of the
issue before them. _ _

Lord R. Churchill said he was proud to belong to a
Government which had added to the dominions of the
Crown so valuable a possession.
The amendment was withdrawn.

Mr. Barclay moved an amendment urging the neces-
sity for securing without delay to the cultivators of the
soil such conditions of tenure as would aid and
encourage them to meet the new and trying circum-
stances in which agriculture is placed.
A long discussion followed, during which the Lord
Advocate expressed his regret that the Liberal Party
had not assisted in the inquiry of the Royal Commis.
gm on Trade and Agricultural Depression, because
many of the points raised in the course of the discus-
sion were well deserving of consideration by the body.
Mr. J. B. Balfour remarked that the Government had
suggested nothing by way of remedy because they had
nothing to suggest.
Mr. Chaplain pointed out the difficulty of proposing
anything as an effectual remedy for the distress.
What lay at the root of agricultural depression was the
depreciation in the value of agricultural produce. The
complaint was that the land was unfairly and heavily
rated, and required relief from local burdens, and this
would be dealt with by the Local Government Bill.
The question of railway rates had also engaged the
attention of the Government, and was one of the
subjects included in the Commission on Trade. As
to greater freedom of cultivation, the farmer was
master of the situation and if he failed to make an
agreement for securing his capital there was no one to
blame but himself. There was one gleam of hope,
and that was that foreign countries were not likely to
continue for any long time, at present prices, to send
their produce here at a profit.
Mr. Cohen spoke against the amendment, and re-
pelled the suggestion that members of the Royal Com-
mission on Trade were biased in their opinions.
Sir R. Temple spoke amid mucb interruption; and
Sir A. Campbell advocated freedom of contract, and
deprecated legislative interference between landlord
and tenant.

Mr. Kimber made some observations, and moved the
adjournment of the debate.
The House was cleared for a division, but when the
question was put a second time there were no " Ayes,"
and the motion was negatived. A division was then
, taken on Mr. Barclay's amendment, which was
negatived by 211 to 183.
On the motion of Mr. Collings the debate was
adjourned, and after several hew bills had been brought
kn. the House adjourned at a quarter to one o'clock.

In the Horn OF LORDS, Jan. 26th, a bill introduced
by the Lord Chancellor, to make temporary provision
for the duties of the vacant office of Chief Itegistrar in
the Land Registry.office pending the consideration by
Parliament of a measure dealing with the whole ques.
tion of land transfer, which it was intended shortly to
introduce, was read a second time, and passed through
its remaining stages.
Their lordships adjourned at 25 minutes to five
o'clock.