The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-05-15 00:00:00

GOOD FRIDAY FERFORILANCFS.

--
Mr. P. A. Taylor asked the Home Secretary whather his
attention had been called to the prohibition by the Lord
Chamberlain of the performance of sacred music in the
theatres on Good Friday last ; whether he could state to the
House the reason for this change in practice; and whether
the Government proposed to take any steps, by legislation
or otherwise, to prevent in future such interference with
the enjoyments of the people.
Mr. Cross replied that the powers of the Lord Chamber-
lain were defined by the Act 6 and 7 Vict., cap 50. MUSIC
licenses were granted by the general magistrates under the
25 George 11., cap 36, the Lord Chamberlain had no power
to make any changes, and had no power to sanction musical
performances in theatres on Christmas Day, Good Friday,
Ash Wednesdays, and Sundays. No fresh Act was required
to enable magistrates to license music halls. The Govern-
ment did not intend to take any steps in the matter.

PEACE PRESERVATION (IRELAND) BILL.
The Third Reading of the Peace Preservation (Ireland) Bill
having been moved, Mr. Butt moved that it be read a
third time this day six months—not with a view of prolong-
ing the discussion, but to enter a last protest against it. Mr.
Scott Sherlock, Lord R. Montagu, and Mr. Moore spoke
against the Bill, while Mr. Newdegate, Mr. C. Lewis, and Mr.
Butler Johnstone supported it. Mr. Ronayne made an
" Irreconcileable speech," which provoked Mr. Waddy to
deprecate a Division on the Third Reading, on the ground
that its violence furnished a strong argument for coercion,
and made it impossible for the English Liberals who had sup-
ported the Irish members in their efforts to mitigate the Bill
to follow them any further.
Mr. O'Connor Power justified Mr. Ronayne, and Mr.
M'Carthy expressed a hope that the Government would make
the Bill as little obnoxious to the people as possible, and that
it would be accompanied by remedial measures.
On a Division, Mr. Butt's amendment was negatived by 281
to 70, and the Bill was read a thfrd. time and passed.

BISHOPRIC OF ST. ALBANS BILL.
On the Second Reading of the Bishopric of St. Albans Bill
being moved by Mr. Cross,
Mr. Richard moved its rejection, mainly on the ground
that it perpetuated and extended a class of political-ecclesias-
tical State officials who were not needed, and also because it
proceeded on the assumption that the bulk of the population
belonged to the Chureh of England. Moreover, nobody
wanted more Bishops of the present type ; and to justify this
assertion, Mr. Richard read a long string of extracts culled
from the Church newspapers, in which the Episcopal Bench
was roundly abused from every ecclesiastical point of view.
Discussing the provisions of the Bill in a sarcastic vein, Mr.
Richard maintained that the Bishops had only displayed
vicarious generosity, and the money would be more usefully
spent in raising the incomes of the working clergy.
Mr. B. Hope repudiated the "ridiculous rubbish" which
Mr. Richard had read from the Church papers, which, if it
had been necessary, could be more than capped from the
prints representing the various Dissenting sects. This Bill
did not clash 'with Lord Lyttelton's Bill, of which he had
charge, but it met a practical want, and he hoped it would
become law at once.
Sir William Harcourt also supported the Bill as a friend of
the principle of Establishment, because it asserted the
authority of the State, and proceeded on the principle that
Parliament would regulate the Church's affairs without
consulting Convocation. He also ridiculed the notion of
Church opinion being represented by the religious Press, as
the most foolish of all journals. The Bill was also supported by
Colonel Makins and Mr. Grantham, representatives of Essex
and Surrey districts affected by it, by Mr. Monk, who gave
notice of his intention to move the abolition of the conge
d'elire, and by Sir T. Chambers, who regarded it merely as a
practical rearrangement of ecclesiastical districts. Mr. Cross
said a few words especially in defence cf the Bishops, and on
a Division Mr. Richard's Amendment was negatived by a
majority of 212-273 to 61.
The Bill was then read a second time.
The rest of the sitting was spent in Committee on the
Adulteration of Food and Drugs BilL
At the Evening Sitting, the House was counted out before
the business began.

IRISH CORONERS.
In the HOUSE OF COMMONS, May 12, Mr. Vance moved
the second reading of the Coroners (Ireland) Bill, and ex-
plained that the measure required that coroners should
be banisters, solicitors, physicians, or justices of the
peace of five years' standing; that it would provide
a superannuation allowance for coroners who had
served twenty years ; to allow the appointment of
deputies, and to require that prisoners should be supplied
with a copy of depositions of witnesses on the payment of a
small sum. The payment of coroners would in future be by
salary instead of by fees, and the average payment under the
scheme of readjustment would be about £B3 per annum.
Mr. Macartney seconded the motion for the second read
lug.
The discussion was continued by several other hon. mem-
bers, and eventually the Bill was read a second time.

• RBPRESENTATIoN OF THE PEOPLE BILL.
Sir. H. D. Wolff, on the order for the second reading
of this Bill, stated that it was not a measure of a party
character, but his object in bringing it in was to remedy
some defects in the present system. He wished, amongst
other things, to simplify registration in boroughs, which
in some respects was complicated at present ; and
another clause was intended to remedy an impediment
in the way of servants who resided with their employers
from voting. • As there was some opposition to some
clauses of the Bill, he would, however, now move that the
order for the second reading be now discharged, and would
at the same time give notice that he would move for leave
to introduce a new Bill containing one clause of the old
measure which would prevent certain occupiers of dwell-
ing-houses from being disqualified from their right of
voting by reason of under-letting such houses for short
terms.
After some observations from the Solicitor-General, Mr.
Fawcett, and Mr. Forsyth, the Bill was withdrawn, and leave
given to introduce the new Bill.
INFANTICIDE BILL,
Mr. Charley moved the second reading of this Bill. He
explained that the measure was identical with one which he
had introduced on the same subject last year. He proposed
that infanticide should not be regarded in all eases as mur-
der, but, under certain circumstances, as a minor offence—
concealment of birth—and he believed the consequence
would be that the securities for the protection of infant life
would not be diminished, but that there would be in future
greater certainty of conviction. At present, juries hesi-
tated to convict for the capital offence, as it was extremely
difficult to prove satisfactorily that a child had been born
alive.
After remarks from several other hon. members, the
Solicitor• General said he should support the second reading
of the Bill, which course he certainly should not have taken
had he considered that it was a measure to facilitate in-
fanticide. The law was in such a condition on the subject
that it was impossible to prove the legal offence of murder
even when there was proof of foul play having been com-
mitted, and it was only right that the law should be so
altered as to ensure the conviction of the criminal.
Sir H. James also supported the second reading of the Bill
After some observations from Mr. Whitwell and Mr. Hop
wood, the Bill was read a second time.

PIER AND HARBOUR ORDERS CONFIRMATION.
The Pier and Harbour Orders Confirmation (No. 3) Bill
passed through committee.

RATING IN IRISH TOWNS.

Mr. Butt moved the second reading of the Towns Rating
(Ireland) Bill, which proposed to assimilate the law of
rating in Irish towns to that of England with regard to
qualifying electors for the parliamebtary franchise. The
Bill proposed only to deal with the question of rating.
Ur. Vance moved that the Bill be read a second time this
day six months, and thought that a measure of this kind
should be introduced by a responsible Government, and not
by a private member.
Sir J. McKenna and Mr. Goschen supported the Bill, which
was opposed by Ur. Mulholland.
Sir M. IL Beach denied the existence of the grievances
complained of, and thought the present law was quite
sufficient to meet all requirements.
Mr. Callan also opposed the Bill, and talked it out.
The other orders were disposed of, and the House ad-
journed.