The Express.
London, England, 1862-05-13 00:00:00

PRIVATE BIJSINESS.

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The bfacintosh Farr Fund Bill and the London, Brigh-
ten, and South Coast Railway lEnlargement of Stations,
Icy.) Bill were severally read a third time.
The Britloort Road (Second District) Bill and the flarnaley
Local Board of Health Bill were severally read s third tints
and named.

•
THE NEW EDUCATION MINUTE.
Lord TEYNH AM presented petitions from the
managers ci schools in Kent and other places against the re-
vised education minute

THE UNTRESS IN LANCASHIRE.
The 11.. I of SHA t-lIMBURY, in introducing the above
subject, said be hoped, under the peculiar circumstances
of the Lase, that her Majesty's government would be pre-
pared to hold out some hopes of a relaxation in the mode
of relief io regard to the labour test in favour of • clue of
people whose exemplary conduct under so severe a trial en-
titled them to the highest praise.
Lord OVERSTONE, who was almost entirely inaudible in
the gallery, was understood to concur with the noble earl
in the tribute of admiration he had paid to the exemplary
conduct of the Lancashire operatives during their present
trial, remarking that, identified as he was with the die-
trice, be necessarily regarded their sufferings with addi-
tional interest and sympathy.
Earl GRI..I47ILLE, who was likewise very indistinctly
heard, wa sure it must have been satisfactory to the noble
ea (Shaftesbury) to take that opportunity of doing justice
to his own feelings, which were those, he was sure, of the
house generally, as they were those of her Majesty's govern-
ment, in favour of the class in whew behalf he had pleaded.
It was impossible for any one representing the government
to deny that very great distress did exist in the cotton
manufacturing district a, and that much individual suffering
had retuned. At the same time, so far as the facts were
known to the government, that distress was not quite so
general as had at first been imagined. There were great
numbers of persons wholly out of employment, no doubt—
large numbers, also, were working half instead of whole
time ; but there were others, again, in some district, who
were employed at nearly full time. He thought great
judgment had been shown by the manufacturers and
employers of labour, as well as by the guardians
of the poor of the several unions, in the mode
which they had adopted of meeting the distress.
With regard to the labour feet, it was to be remembered
that there was Dow power in the boards of guardians to dis-
pense with that test for a period not exceeding three weeks
at their own discretion, in cases of emergency, at the end of
which time they must report to the Poor-law Beard, who,
if they saw sufficient reason, might permit the dime's-
tinuanos of the test for a still longer period. The great
object of the government in dealing with the poor-law
authorities was to see that the rules and regulations of the
law were conformed to, but at the same time to make
them so elastic that they might at all times be made avail-
able for meeting cases of pressing emergency. Up to the
present time he believed there was nothing in the cue,
either in the number of persons thrown upon the relief
fund or the amount of the rate, which should cause
serious alarm, or lead to the opinion that the poor law ,
would be inadequate to meet the demand upon it. Except
in one or two parishes the rate had not yet reached any
very high amount ; and with regard to the capability of the
district, he reminded their lordships that six years ago the
rateable value of the property of the district was 7,000,0001.,
and it had since considerably increased. There was no
reason to suppose, therefore, that the resources of Lanca-
shire would fall short of the demands which might possibly
be made upon them in the present exigency. He found that
committees were beginning to be organised to aid the local
authorities in the administration of the relief, by ascertain-
ing the sum end claims of the distressed people, and the
Poor-law Board bad sent down a mostexperienced inspector,
a gentleman who had been for five or six years engaged in
an adjoining district of Lancashire, and who enjoyed
the confidence of the authorities, to co-operate with the
guardians. That gentleman, Mr. Parnell, would endeavour
to place their load committees in harmonious working with
the local authorities, advise the guardians as to the best
means of providing labour for those who might become the
objects of relief as circumstances suggested, and to originate
and put in force such other measures as were calculated to
lead to the most satisfactory solution of the difficulty. The
noble lord had referred to the feeling of sympathy exhibited
by the manufacturers, and he (Earl Granville) admitted that
it was impossible to speak too highly of their conduct,
taking them as a body. No doubt • certain number of the
manufacturers had shut up their mills, and thereby contri-
buted to the general distress ;there wee nodoubt that in other
parts the manufacturers were a little ieclined in some in-
stances to cast a burden upon the poor-law guardians which
in sonic sort belonged to them ; but there was no doubt that
the majority were animated with the best feeling towards
those they employed, submitting to very great sacrifices
themselves in order to alleviate the suffering of their
bands, and were taking that course of prudence and huma-
nity which was most likely to avoid those consequences
which an injudicious course of conduct would produce.
With regard to the operatives, it was impossible to speak
too highly of them—their patience, their submission, their
perfect knowledge of secondary causes that have led to
the difficulty—their feelings for the sacrifices to which their
. employers are exposed, their appreciation of the relatioos
between the government and the people, and their under
standing that goverment, not having mixed in social affairs
of this kind, are not responsible when distress arising from
any failure in the demand for labour takes place, and fur-
• their, their knowledge that the legislature was wholly in-
adequate to meet such an emergency. Knowledge of
these facts and the conduct which that knowledge has
produced reflect most creditably upon the operatives of
that large district, and speak for that increased intelli
genes and intellectual improvement, as well as that great
improvement in their moral character to which the noble
lord has so properly borne testimony. (Cheers.) It was
with meat satisfaction that he was enabled on his own
part, and on the part of the government, to tender
their humble admiration, in common with the admire-
tics of the their lordships, of the conduct of there poor
people, together with their deep sympathy for their
sufferings.
The Earl of DERBY was satisfied that the people of
Lancashire were bearing this calamity with that patience,
resignation, and resolution, which did them the
highest credit, end on the other hand be was
convinced that those who bad the means were exert-
ing themselves to the utmost of their power to alleviate the
distress which existed and he was further speared that
when those means should be greatly reduced, he would
not say quite exhausted, those proprietors would not
appeal iu vain for assistance to their fellow-country-
men, for those funds which the poor law was not the
proper machinery to provide. But the last thing which the
Lancashire population would desire would be to come as
petitione., and beggars for subdue.) from the public funds
of the country. (Hear, bear.)
The subject then dropped.

THE REGISTER OF VOTERS BILL
Lord VEDEN, in moving the sewed rending of this
bill, said it was a measure to facilitate the registration of
voters for the conveoienoe of the constituencies throughout
the couotty. The bill had been pared through the Com-
mons aol sent up by a large majority, and the members for
South Luticashire and Middlesex Lad supported it. Under
these circumstances he hoped their lorsbips would assent
to the second reading.
Earl GRANVILLE said the bill involved no great con-
stitutional question of any sort, and as the House of Com-
mons bad agreed to it by a large majority it would be most
ungracious on their parts if they did not agree to the
second reading.
A division was called for, but before it took place the
Marquis of Sauaar*T said be would not trouble their
lips to divide on the present occasion.
The bill was thee reed a second time.
THE INUNDATIONS OF THE SHANNON AND ITS