The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-08-21 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

In the ROUSE ON LORDS, August 13, in the course of a
Conversation upon the state of the public business, Earl
Granville was unable to say when Parliament was likely to be
Prorogued.
Several unopposed Bills having been forwarded a stage,
their Lordships adjourned at twenty minutes to six o'clock.
In the HousE OF COMMONS, the Marquis of Hartington
answered a long string of questions relating to affairs in
Afghanistan from Mr. Onslow, Sir H. Tyler, Sir William Pal-
liser, and others. In the first place, he said, arrangements had
been made to keep up communications with General Roberts
h 7 Means of special messengers, though circumstances might
arise to interrupt them. General Stewart and General
Roberts had made all nec ess ary arrangements for the supply of
'revisions and fodder, though he was not able to state what
IneY Were. General Roberts would have an independent
command, and he would be in supreme command at Canda-
llaa% and there was no reason to believe that he was in-
..,
___wsposed to undertake the service. In reply to Sir W.
^laser, who asked whether the Government would give a
discretionary power to General Stewart to send a force to
Ghazni to afford a base of operations for Gener§l Roberts,
be said he could quite understand the anxiety felt as to
General Roberts's march, and the Government naturally
ahared in it, but nothing could be more unwise than to inter-
fere with the discretion of military officers in whom the
Government had confidence. General Roberts's march was
expected to occupy 28 or 30 days. Abdurrahman Khan, he
said, would not be expected to receive a British Envoy, but
the Indian Government would be represented by a Native
Resident.
Sir A. Gordon, amid some laughter, expressed a hope that
the Government would answer no more of these questions;
and Mr. Gorst immediately gave notice of his intention to
ask the Government whether they would undertake not to
Droregne Parliament until the close of General Robert's
enterprise.
On the consideration of the Employer's Liability Bill as
ainended, Mr. Courtney took the opportunity of reviewing
the amendments, and, pointing to the growing feeling in
favour of the abolition of the defence of "common employ-
'tent," recommended that as the Bill was not up to the pre-
ae.„ nt level of public opinion it should be withdrawn until next
aession. Mr. Dodson, however, doubted whether public
.oPinion was ripe for the total abolition of the doctrine, and
"..? suspend action until that could be effected would be put-
wng the Bill off to the Greek Kalends.
a The consideration of new clauses occupied the whole of
li Morning Sitting and was not concluded. A clause moved
1,7 Mr. Dodson, regulating the manner in which notice of
LajUry shall be served on the employer, was added to the Bill
,43' a majority of 133 to 34; but a clause moved by Sir H.
Sfard abolishing the defence of "common employment"
ta actions brought against railway companies was negatived
01 139 to 66. Another clause moved by Mr. H. Palmer,
taaking common employment a question of fact for the jury,
Ivas negatived without discussion.
The question of insurance was revived by Lord IL
Churchill, who, acting for Mr. Knowles, moved a clause
* Providing that where the employers have contributed one-
third of the premium or subscription to any sufficient fund
for the compensation for bodily injury or death they should
not be subject to any action for compensation, except to fix
the amount. It was supported by Mr. H. Vivian, Mr.
uourtney, and Mr. Craig, and opposed by Mr. Dodson, and
°ll a division it was negatived by 146 to 52.
At the Evening Sitting, a long discussion took place on the
co. ndition of the Irish peasantry, and a resolution was agreed
to declaring that the present condition of the agricultural
P2Pnlation in Mayo, Sligo, Galway, and other parts of the
;vest of Ireland demands the serious and immediate atten-
glen of the Government.
The consideration of the Employers' Liability Bill as
,aluended was resumed and completed. Mr. Morley's addi-
!ion to Clause 1, making railway companies liable for acci-
dents caused by the neglect of persons having charge or con-
-01 of any signal, points, locomotive engine, or train, was
agreed to, and the Bill was ordered to be read a third time
°II Monday.
Some other business was disposed of, and the House burnedad-
-0 at a quarter past three o'clock.

In the HOUSE OF LORDS, August 16, Lord Stratheden
BM, Campbell, who had given notice that he would call atten-
tion to the papers on the recent Conference at Berlin, and
kove for the diplomatic correspondence consequent on that
erence, announced that at this period of the Session he
d not intend to enter into the subject of his notice at any
Length. He would be content, as regarded parol informa-
_i'ion from the Government, if they stated that anything they
,Tight give their sanction to in the way of pressure on
illrkey would be in respect of the demand of Montenegro,
No not of that of Greece; and, as regarded papers, he knew
4.at, the Foreign Office could not be forced to give them if
'lie Foreign Secretary did not feel inclined to do so.
Lord Denman having expressed a hope that the Govern-
taent would not satisfy the noble lord's curiosity,
...Lord Granville intimated that he should follow this ad-
Liese• He had made a statement last week which went as far
--o, yu4e thought the convenience of the public service war-
f—iiecl him in going, and he did not think it would be for
he advantage of the public service to add anything to what
he then said.
The Motion was thereupon withdrawn.
The Lord Chancellor, speaking in a discussion on a question
of Lord Braye, explained that it was on a previous occasion,
and not in the division on the Irish Compensation for Dis-
turbance Bill, that Lord Plunket had voted without having
taken the oath.
The Earl of Fife, replying to Earl Fortescue, said the
Government were not prepared to deal immediately with
the question of the London Water Supply; but they were
Prepared to give effect to the recommendation of the Select
Committee that an independent water authority be consti-
tuted, with power to deal with the whole matter.
Having disposed of a number of unopposed orders, their
lordships adjourned at twenty-five minutes to seven o'clock.
the Housn OF COMMONS, Lord Hartington read the
iatest telegrams from Afghanistan From Candahar it is re-
ported that the defence is complete; and General Roberts,
Whose opinion is stated to coincide with General Stewart's as
to the expediency of the march on Candahar and the
B,lxnultaneous evacuation of Cabul, reports that there
is no ground for alarm as to supplies, and that he ex-
Deets to find plenty on the road. In answer to questions
from Sir W. Barttelot and Mr. Cowen, he said the
latest reports left no doubt that the first accounts of General
Burrow's losses were exaggerated • and in answer to Mr.
Cowen, he had no information as 'to Ayoob Khan being in
concert with Abdurrahman, and though he did not depend
much on the trustworthiness of these Afghan chieftains, it
faust be evident that the interests of Ayoob Khan and
the Ameer we is absolutely divergent. The Armstrong
fiLT:d To the possession of Ayoob Khan were be-
pot
of
them hhave formerly belonged to Shere Ali, and
to Mr. aorst,
haed been manufactured at Cabul. In answer
her Majesty to declined to give any pledge not to advise
General Robertsprorogue Parliament until the result of
from the state of march was known, though, he added,
to attain his
Object Public business, it was in Mr. Gorst's power
In answer to questions from Sir 11. Wolff,
he said the day on
Which General Burrows's advance was ordered, and consec juently reinforcements were ordered up
from Scinde, wasu
Was on July 14, the defeat
1. The revolt of the Wall's troops
e defeat of General Burrows was on
July 27, and General Phayre was ordered on July 28 to ad-
vance as soon as he could with security, and he expected to
be able to do so from the 15th to the 20th of August. The
Wali's troops he id had never formed part of General
Ilurrows's fore' as
id
and the reason why no reinforcements
Were sent after their mutiny was that a force of Foot, Horse,
and Artillery had been ordered up from Scinde ten days
re. Lord Lytton's Government, he added, was respon-
fable for the general disposition of forces about Candahar.
the
Hartington having answered several questions as to
Lae course of business for the week, the House went into
91nrni
C •
than on the Civil Service Estimates. Rather more
'Lan five hours were occupied by six votes of Class 11. (Law
.arkd Justice) relating to the prisons establishment and re-
Vernatories of England and Scotland. On the Prisons Vote
4,_'°l' England the functions of the Visiting Justices under
I."'"4_,e new system were canvassed at length, and the
'sh members objected to the insufficient provision and
Beauty payment of Roman Catholic chaplains. The Home
Secretary, in answer to their protests, promised that the
i,illbject should have his attention before next Session. The
l',oulnaittee then passed to Class IV., (Education), and on
ine vote for Learned Societies there was an interesting con-
Versation on the weather forecasts, which Lord F. Cavendish
eXplained he had arranged to supply to the newspapers at a
Much cheaper rate than formerly.
On the Diplomatic Vote the arrangement with regard to
the Constantinople Embassy, by which Mr. Goschen per-
the duties and Sir H. Layard receives the salary, was
Challenged by Mr. Labouchere and Mr. Monk, and, after
some discussion, Lord Hartington, while admiting that the
arrangement was provisional, said he could not give any ex-
Plimations in the absence of Mr. Gladstone.
The Committee of Supply was prolonged until a late hour,
lifld after several Bills had been forwarded a stage, the
40use adjourned at twenty-five minutes to throe o'clock.

In the HOUSE OF LORDS, August 17, the Earl of Redesdale
baleg,__aiti complained of the tardy manner in which Bills were
t„Leg sent up from the Commons. Earl Granville said that
'erY possible endeavour would be made to facilitate the
Oldness of their lordships' House, in order that there might
Ye no unnecessary delay in bringing the labours of Parlia-
&tent to a conclusion for this Session.
reply to a question from Lord De La Warr, Lord
tl,bieley read a return made by various railway companies to
e Board of Trade on the use of continuous brakes.
3fLord Camperdown, having asked whether, in the opinion
inisters, it waa necessary for the good government of
4.'araa to maintain a Governor and Council in that Brest-
44;t1FY, Lord Northbrook replied that the possibility of re-
g the expenditure of the Governorship of Madras and
ab,'PaY was well worthy of consideration, but he would not
Pate the result.
pale orders of the day having been disposed of, their lord-
'Ps adjourned at ten minutes past four o'clock.
toill the Heim OF COMMONS, Lord Bartington, in answer
qe: clnest W
ion from Sir H. olff, said the movements of
4eurvail Burrows on the Helmand were ordered by the pre.
Croy.
Sir
Barttelot called attention to the speech of Mr.
actir-' reported in the morning papers, and asked what
urea.
,the Government meant to take on it.
had r4,rster said he had read the speech, and, though he
Presa" uesire to overrate its importance, he could nota_
FeWarte ex-
strongly his opinion of its wickedness and
tie to i„.,ce. As far as it could have any effect at all it must
traroerlilce men to break the law, and it was so ingeniously.
kent ea to avoid prosecution. As to what the Govern
ended to do, he said nothing would please Mr.
1:)t reere than an unsuceessful prosecution, and he did
nd to give him that pleasure, though he assured the
WatZitilat the Government would continue carefully to
these speeches.
had, ~4-4Wer to Mr. T. O'Connor, Sir W. Barttelot said he
therZet, given Mr. Dillon notice of his question because
Cre0;,;(18-11 been no contradiction of the speech, and Mr.
Itai,„-"er was proceeding to remark that the denial of HOMO
lettelWaSreBl3o/113ible for violent language and acts of vio-
when he was stopped by the Speaker.
Cewea having asked what reason there was for as-
as at the authenticity of the report on which Mr. Dillon
icellsed of wickedness and cowardice,
ttir Yorster said all the different reports were substan-
it tir identical, and the speech was of such a character that
eohte re.l3crt had not been authentic they would have been
~,rateted.
n-ite
Put a,r, further questions on the state of Ireland had been
Thaa4l,feresi,_
'erclilis of Hartington proceeded to make the usual
itod 'tent of the Indian Finances. Having stated the revenue
ttlaj:Penditure of the last three years, nod shown the flue-
Which had taken place, and which had been mainly
18740 the opium revenue, his lordship said that in the years
the War 1879-80, and 1880-81 there would have been but for
£4,24e_xPenditure, surpluses of £2,000,700, £4,232,000, and
°i's total surplus of £11,179,000. In the present
‘ax. 1:11s lordship went on to explain how the
iieenseialiPosition of India he did not propose to remit the
eYstem
estthaater keeping the military accounts had led to the under
gatittraat: of "war expenditure, and stated that to the total
ranstOfl account of the war in February last of 4,5,982,000
added 4,9,000,000, so that the total estimated
Ws £14,982,000. In 1880-81 instead of
al70111"e2g a small surplus there would be a deficit
liregent '",990,000. Coming to the Ways and Means of the
*ere 4 Year, he said it would be inconvenient until they
Slottah a position to make a full announcement to the
qove,„; te state what were the precise intentions of the
ment, but they were certainly of opinion that help
Come from England, as the war was not entered into
' Doh e Plirposes of India, but in pursuance of an Imperial
Cy.
ci •
hope lecUssiog followed, in which Mr. Otway, Mr. E. Stan.
Of Md Sir D. Wedderburn took part, and, on the motion
Ashrnead-Nrtlett the debate was adjourned.
Orli" Zincational Endowments (Scotland) Bill was with-
vitt.
*At the r
r e Evening Sitting, he debate on the Indian Budget
184-med, Mr. Ashmeacl-Bartlett, Mr. J. K. Cross, Mr.
hletobe,4.44Mr- Fawcett, Lord G. Hamilton, and other hon.
adieuro—o taking part therein. Eventually the debate was
the d, and some other business having been disposed
e'etowi: 'louse adjourned at twenty-five minutes to two

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