The Express.
London, England, 1862-07-17 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

noun OF COMMONS.-WZMNLIDAY, JOLT 16.

(Cootiomd from yeitaclay's Erpress.)
NIGHT POACHINO PREVENTION BILL

air J. PAERIGTON was not as advocate far the
preservation of pore to an extreme extent ; be thought
at was • most yawns mode of dealing with
landed property • but if a landowner chose so to
deal with his property, that was a question
between him and his tenants. It was perfectly monstrous
to contend that a landed proprietor was to be at the mercy
of every marauder in England. He was not for dealing with
this evil in aa extreme manner, but it less an evil that re-
quired correction, and believing that this bill would effect
that object. he should vote for the second reading.
Sir G. GREY said it was highly inconvenient that the
right hon. barooet (Sir J. Palangtoo) ghoul I come down
to the boon. after • bill had been under discussion
for three hours, sod answer supposed arguments
which ha had not heard. He thought the hon. baronet
bad shown great courage in introducing this bill; fur a bill
containing greater violations of every principle of law b
never saw. The right hon. baronet (Sir J. Pskingten) said
it was easy to remedy the fundamental defects of the bill ;
bat the preamble set out by stating that to be the law
which was not the law. Re believed that a dealer who
bought game which had been netted would come under
the operation of this bill. This showed haste
and want of consideration in drawing the bill
He protested against the exaggerated statements that had
been made on thin subject. Twenty-eight chief constables
bad signed • memorial. in which they stated that mra-
derous attacks had become common, but in two years and a
half only four had been committed in one county, two in
another, and in Worcestershire there had been five. The
present law was of a very stringent character, and be was at
• loss to nodaetand hew it was that the police of Worces-
tershire, if they knew persons who were regularly engaged
in night poaching, could not put the law in force.
Mr. BASS supported the bill. In hie neighbourhood
night poaching had much increased, and he found that re-
cently, in two neighbouring counties, Nottingham and
Leicester, there had been murderous assaults by poachers.
He did Dot think that any gentleman wood stand up in
the house and env this was not a growing evil. The right
boo. baronet said this bill violated every principle of law ;
but sandy it was • great opprobrium of the law that if a
man went to his house and stole • rabbit•skin he was liable
to be treated as • felon, but if he went into his park and
Mole half-a-down bares he might when he got outside sit
down and smoke his pipe without fear of being molested,
and if ho were asked where he got the hares he would give
a racy !tower. . . . .

Mr. CAIRO asked hon. gentlemen opposite, who were
the • • faresete friends," if they had consulted the farmers
with remit to this bill? He thought it most unobiection•
able to give power to the police to stop persons having
game, on the highway.
Sir B. LEIGHTON said be was sorry that the Secretary
of State did not propose a select committee a little earlier.
The right boo. gentleman had strongly olleeted to some of
the details of the bill, but he had not said a word against
the principle. The powers proposed to be given to the
police were not greater than these given by the Metropo-
litan Police Bill, and not stronger than were given in re-
fereuce to the preservation of salmon.
Mr. BARROW said be agreed with those who thought
that night peachier( had increased, was increasing, and Ought
to be diminished; but he denied that this bill wouklhave the
effect of diminialdeg it. It was said that this bill involved
the rights of property ; but it involved the liberty of the
poor. (Cries of "Oh.") A man wan liable to be taken into
custody and kept all night and then remanded till the petty
sessions for an offence which was only punishable with a
fine, and there was nothing in the bill giving the power of
bail. Ile thought theta constable should not hove the power
of apprebowling a man on vague suspicion. (Loud cries of
"Divide.")
. . . . .

34.41TiNflAND said the statement of the Secretary d
Stab that this bill violated every priociple of I.iw surprised
him, for • bill brought in by the right bon. baronet himself
is reference to deer on usiendosed lands was much more
severe. The right hoa member for Oxfordshire, he con-
sidered, luul twisted the returns in order to suit his argu-
ment. 'The old-fashioned style of poacher—the labourer
overworked, underpaid, and underfed—had died out, mid
the present elms of poachers were mom the lowest ruffians
to be found in cake and towns. This wee one of the great
social evils of the day, and it would be a scandal upon the
house if it did not seriously attempt to deal with it before
the close of the session.

NEWDEGATE, who rose amidst loud cries of
"divide," said be thought they bad all arrived at the con-
clusion that the provisions of the bill in reference to the
capture of persons were such as could not receive the
support oven of the promoters of the bill. The
measure was too stringent, aud, in his opinion,
the only effective !ablation would be that which ren-
dered penmen accountable for the pommies of instruments
for poaching, and of game illegally obtained. He should be
sorry to see legislation go beyond that point at present ; but
if after what had occurred the house del not read the bill •
second time. it might be supposed to have given a direct
eucotrogement to these poachers. As had jest been stated,
the character of the poacher had changed • he had now
become the agent of the dealer, and this trade was encou-
raged by the conduct of game preservers themselves.
Though be did not approve of the provisions of the bill, he
loped, for the reason he had given, that it would be
read a second time. The evil was increasing and
asesumieg such a shape that no one would be able to pre-
serve any game unlearn he could maintain an army
for its protection. (Hear, hear.) If, however, they auc-
tioned snob a unaware se he had suggested, it would pre-
serve to the tenant-farmer and the small proprietor some
small quantity of game ; but he should be sorry to see any
enactment which a:add acourage to an exaggerated extent
the preservation of game. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. V. SCULLY, on rising, was greeted with laughter
and loud cries of "Oh, oh." He said the strongest argu-
ment he had beard in favour of the bill was that of
clamour, but the house had better bear him, as otherwise
be should be obliged to detain it until six o'clook.
(laughter.) He could not give his support to the bill, but
lie would "pair off "if the promoters would strike out
from it the wad "Ireland." It was worse than any of
the Irish coercion bills which had been introduced this
sermon. He looked upon it am a monstrous bill, which
ought to be thrown out at once, and although he did not
often go with the government. he trusted that they would
go with him on the prevent occamos in giving it his oppo-
sition. (A laugh.)
The house then divided :

For the woad reeding 149
Against it
The bill yes then reed a woad Rom
LEASFA, Le., BY INcumBENTS RESTRICTION ACT

~YBSiDILENT BILL

This Lill ass read a third time sad passed.
FISHERIES (IRELAND) BILL.

The house went into committee upon this bill.
M. HUTT rose to address the house, and continued
spieking till a quarter to six, wins the discussion was ad-
journed.

EXCISE DUTIES BILL.
This bill was read • second time.
JAMAICA LOAN SETTLEMENT DILL.
Thu bill posed through committee.

DIVORCE COURT BILL.
mi. bill was Ted a third time sad pwed.
'PUBLIC OFFICES EXTENSION BILL.
This hill was read a third time.

NEW ZEALAND BILL.
This bill was rued a third time and passed.
COUNTY SURVEYORS (IRELAND) BILL.
This bill as ameaded was considered.
TURNPIKE ACES CONTINUANCE BILL.
Tbis bill passed through committee.
RECOVERY OF POOR RATES, Ac., BILL.
This bill passed through committee.
DUCHY OF CORNWALL LANDS KX)IIPLETION OF
ARRANGEMENTS) BILL.
Tbis bill was read a third tirimaad pained.
CHURCH RATES VOLUNTARY REDEMPTION
BILL.

The order for the second wain of this bill wu die•
sharg. I.
The house rose at five ablates to 6.

ii.BEICY IN THE HOUSER OF PABLIAIIIENT.—
Yesterday afternoon two deliberate robberies were com-
mitted in that part of the Hones of Parliament devoted to
the sittings of the committees of the Lords, which,
together with the House of Lords, is sow open to the
public, attracting during the last few days many hundreds
of •:niters. As Mr. Parkes, of the parliamentary agency
firm of Dyson, Hall, Parkes, Coates, and Shruheole, was
nuking his way through a crowd of crinoline into one of
the committee mans be was relieved of a valuable watch ;
ands foreign gentleman in soother part of the corridor also
become suddenly sensible of the escape at his chronometer.
These robberies until recently occurred in the Commons.
but the light-fingered fraternity were effectually scared
away by the presence of vigilant detectives of the A Divi-
sion in prirate clothes, and it is probstbly owing to their
atomics in the Lords that the robberies of yesterday are to
be attributed. The omission, however, it may be men-
tioned, wee supplied during the day by Superintendent
Doran, of the A corps of the Conimons.
suitcase OF PAUPEltlaM.—Frotn the periodical
return kneed yesterday moron% it appears that on the Ist
of .; miner/ last the somber of paupers in receipt of relief
in England was 945,268, being an increase of 53,401, or 6
per met.. es compared with the corresponding period of
7861. In the number of adult able-bodied paupers relieved, the
increase was much higher, it being equal to 11.3 per cent.
Confining the remark to the latter class of peepers, we find
a decrease in some counties, and a various degree of increase
in other". In the metropolitan district, in the south-
eastern, and io the eastern, there has been a slight decrease.
The highest absolute increase la in lancashire, where the
number of able bodied adult paupers was 7,322 more than
ie the year before—aa Menem of 58.5 per cent. In War-
wicklre the number bad increased by 2,868, or 614.5 per
emit. ; is the West Biding at Yorkshire 6v 3,616, or 54 per
rent. la Use smell esnoty of Westmoreland an oddities of
only 206 paupers ',promos an lame of 85.5 per milt., the
highest rates io the 'dorm
" Mazarta"—The only corn flour tb at received a
per. medal: the leaf masoneced It " an exetedingly
edieellent food--culler particulars on packets, obtainable at
grocers, chemists', ac.---(Advertiennent.