The Express.
London, England, 1864-03-18 00:00:00

THE GOVERNMENT ANNUITIES BILL.

The adjourned debate on the Amenities Bill was resumed
by
Sir 11. FAUQUHAH, who moved that the measure be
referral to a select committee. The hoe. hareem argued
that it was lint I that existing friendly societies, eepe•
chilly those which hod been represented as fraudulent and
bankrupt, should be beard before • committee of the house
prior to the state undertaking to deprive them of the greater
portion of their business.
The amendu.ent was seconded by Mr. HORSFALL, who
observed that the bill did not propane to amend the
Friendly Societies Act, while it would take from them the
beet life assurances, leaving them with nothing bat the sick
feed and contributions from old members, from which little
or no profit was to be had.
Mr. HOINALINSON and Mr. SALT supported the principle
of the bill, as likely to confer • great bum upon the working
classes.

Sir F. GOLDS= and Mr. Caisson lilrevriva spoke in its
favour.

Mr. SOTHEIION-ESTCOURT (whom reappearance,
after his severe andiapusition, was cordially welcomed by
the house) said that if he were to consult his owe feelings be
would support the bill, but that there were many portions
of it which he thought the mature judgment of the house
weld out approve. Its operation would cease at that point
! where life assurance became profitable, and he hoped the
• Chancellor of the Exchequer would consent to refer it to •
reject committee, by whom the whole of the details might
undergo i be ful lest consideration.
Mr. tetiSCH EN approved of the bill, which he mid would
not interfere with the liberty of the working classes, who
might adapt it or not, just as it might please them.
Mr. AY RTON moved the adjournuanit of the debate.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER was not
going to speak upon the merits of the Iwll, but be wisbei to
state that a deputation from the working men of London
had waited upon him, •ruder the presideticy of a gentleman
most didinguished for his philanthropy, sod they had as-
sured him th►t the trades unions to which he bad refined
on a former occasion as involving in their system • principle
of coercion towards the minority of their own body, were
working themselves out of that—es they seemed to
feel it—vicious system. (Hear, hese) Ile wag
sure the house would share in the pattficatiou
with which be had received that assurance. (Cheer.). His
right hon. friend (Mr. S. Peacoat) had stated, apparently
with the concurrence of many gentlewen sitting near him,
that he was clot desirous of couuecting the bill with a gee*.
rat inquiry into the condition of friendly societies and lint..
ranee companies ; but that be thought it would be better to
send it before a select committee on the clauses, as contra-
distinguished from • committee to inquire into the subject
of the measure, rather than to submit it in the first indium*
to • committee of the whole house. The niotion of hi. hon.
friend (Sir M Furpthar) wee simply to refer the bill to •
select committee bat the speech of the hoe. member wbo
seconded that motion had goes entirely upon the swamp-
non that it was to be mat before a committee, in order that
the various societies might be examined before it. To that
proposal be eateetained an insuperable objection, and nothing
would lindens him to accept the responsibility of under-
Win to any forward the bill is each a skim (Bear,