The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1859-03-15 00:00:00

FRIDAY.

On the order for gob-11-lin-to a Committee of Supply,
Lord C. PAGET lIIRTLsi a resolution, that, in con-
formity with the practice of the Public Departments, it
is desirable that a statement showing the proposed
expenditure in the construction and conversion of Iler
Majesty's chips be annually laid before this House with
the Navy Estimates. lie observed that this practice, of
laying before the House detailed estimates fur works
costing above EI,OUO, instead of a gnus sum, WAS
founded in reason and good policy ; it would give Par-
liament the same control over ship-building as over
barracks and other public works. He wialietl fat know
every year what had been done in shipbuilding in the
past yeat and what was going to be done. The estimates
as now prepared gave no information upon this sub-
ject. Ile read a calculation of what had been expended
in shipbuilding for 11 years, which gave the following
results:— For ship' built, £5,993,0110; for conversions,
; for maintenance, 4:5,92:).000; for tilting in
ordinary, k.c., £.1.10,000; nuking A total of t:13,102,000,
or, including contingences, 1:14,0011,000. This was the
creditor side of the Admiralty ; on the debtor side the
sums voted for the Navy during the 11 years WAS
1:19,tP9.941, leaving a deficit of $:5,1100.000. How, he
asked, had this money been spent He answered, in
reckless and extravagant alterations. He gave some
examples of these costly experiments, observing that if
his motion was agreed to, the Admiralty would no
longer have the power to pull a ship down with coining
' to that House.
Sir.). P. I sous said, giving Lord CLARENCE credit
for the beat intentions, he had heard his speech with the
deepest regret; its only effect would be to shake all
confidence in the shipbuilding department of the
Admiralty, and to make the public believe, at a time
when • great effort was required, that those who were
bound to snake it were not trustworthy, though he did
not say that this was Lord Clarence's intention. His
(Sir John's) belief was that he had not looked into the
details of his statement so closely as he ought to have
done, and that they were not correct. Ile analysed the
statement, and referred to a counter-statement, which
showe.l that in the former large items had been omitted,
and that instead of 1:5,ta,0,000 being unaccounted fur,
there was no balance to be accounted for. Ile was not
hound, lie said, to di fend all the acts of the Admiralty
for the last II years, yet he reminded the House that (Ise
changes in naval architecture haul been of late very rapid,
and would account for totally of the alterations com-
plained of without lto uting to any one reckless extra-
vaganee. He 441iSCSS, the tie's.
sir C. NAPIER said he fumy taut., t.. found with the
motion was that it dbl not go further, and require the
reconstruction of the Board of Admiralty, the constant
changes in which were the cause of all tins waste and ex-
travagance. lie defended Lord C. Paget, who did tout
deserve, he contended, the censure cast open him by
Sir J. Pakington.
Mr. Osisonseubserved that, if the department was so
rotten, Lord Clarence was bound to move for a *elect
cominittcv to investigate it ; and lie callusl upon him, in
justice to Sir Baldwin Walker soul to former Boards of
Admiralty, to make good his charge before a select com-
mittee.
Mr. BENTINCE believed that under the present
constant of the Board of Admiralty, with a civi-
lian at it its bead, efficiency and economy were bulks,-
able.
Sir F. BARING SSW the return sought for by Lord C.
Paget, would he werthleas ; it would produce no effect
in checking expenditure ; why did he not move fur a
committee,
The discusuon was continued by Sir G. Pecitect, amid
Sir!. ELPIIINSTONE ; the latter strongly urged the ap-
pointment of a committee.
Mr. M. litsost said, if there was to be a committee
nisei naval expenditure, it appeared to him that whether
the estimates should be ins particular form was a ques-
t' for the consideration of the c iiiii utittee rather than
for that of the house, and he recommended that the mo-
tion should ilot be pressed. Ile complained of the en-
cumbrance of the old sailing ships, and wished to know
him:tiler there was any way of getting rid of them.
Lord .1. Ressett. observed that there were two
matters before the Honsw—nantely, the motion and the
statement made by the mover, to the tion, lie
thought the House was not in a condit: to prescribe
any particular form of this eatimates ; but it was not
satisfactory that the whole atatanawitt of Lord C. Paget,
carefully prepared, sl Id be entirely set aside, and
that the House should have no inquiry into the matter.
The observations made in the debate haul left an impres-
siou on Isis mind that there ought I. be sonic further
inquiry. There was no wish to inculpate any particular
person, the Board of Admiralty, or the Surveyor of the
Navy ; but it WAS desirable to know whether the build-
ing and maintaining our ships were conducted with
ecolounte.
The I 'll firELLOR of the Even Ettl'Elt said the Govern-
in. Ist had no olujection to an inquiry, but this
tion blmuld be brought forward with due notice. They
loch apisuitited committees to inquire minutely into the
naval expenditure, whose reports would be laid before
the House, which would be then in a condition to say
whether fuller inforination wan required.
Mr. T. G. Bantu; pointed out error,. in Lord C.
Pagers statement to the extent of 1:2,2110,000, which
aluvild incline the House, be sash, to suspect other
errors.
After some observations by Mr..lotierti Loreit, the
House divided, when the 'notion of Lord 4'. Paget was
negatived by 117 to 97 .
TII.. House then went into a Conimittee of Suppy on
the Navy Estimates, when a aunt of 1:995,617 was voted
for victualling tlw navy.
In a Committee of Ways and Means, certain sums
were voted out of the Conselislabal Fund.
'Else East India Loan Bill passed through committee.
Other Bills were forwarded a stage, and the
after sonic further business, adjourned at a quarter to 1
o'clock until Monday.