The Express.
London, England, 1862-08-01 00:00:00

SALE OF LNTOXICATING DRINKS ON SUNDAY.

Mr. SOMES gave notice that early neat session he would
call attention to the sale of intoxicating drinks on the Sab-
bath, with a view to the introduction of a measure for its
abolition,

UNION RELIEF AID BILL.
The house then went into committee upon this bill.
Mr. C. VILLIERS said he had prepared a clause em-
bodying the principle which, he thought, was decided upon
by the division yesterday. It bad nothing in view but to
enable the guardians to borrow money as an alternative to
seeking contributions in aid. The clause which he proposed
to add to the bill provided that when the rates reached se.
in the pound the guardians might borrow money on the se-
curity of the rates, to be repaid by annual instalments out
of the common fund in seven years.

After some conversation,
Sir G. GREY reminded the committee that the question
before it was simply that the clause be read • second time ;
and as the principle it involved—namely, the power
of making loans— was not objected to, it would
be as well to agree at once to the motion.
It would be easy to arrange the details afterwards.
Kr. COBDEN said the only objection to reading
the clause • mooed time was that the committee were
sot just then in • position to consider the details of the
proposition. He would remind the house that when the
bill was brought in the proposal it contained wee that when
the excess reached two-thirds of the ordinary rates there
should be a right given to call in external aid. That had
now been altered to • provision that the external aid
should not be called in till the rates had reached five
dialing* in the pound. That alteration was by no means
desired by the roaoufecturing interests ; for there were some
districts which would be ruined long before the rates had
risen to that height. He did not, however, quarrel with
the alteration so far as it related to the rate in aid. Ile ad-
mitted that an outlying agricultural union bad • right to
demand that the districts in distress should give some
proof that they had made an effort to relieve themselves
before they called on their neighbours for help. What he
complained of was, that the position of these districts was
neit recognised as that of • strong man struck, so to speak,
with partial pandysia. What they wanted was
not to be troubled or burdened at all till they had bad
a chance of recovering themselves. What was it. therefore,
that they did! They came before the house like honest,
sturdy, strong men, and said, " Give us a right to deal with
oar own property in our own way." The assemble property
of Rochdale, for instance, was between three and four mil.
lions, and the utmost sum the union could possibly want to
borrow before'next session would be from 15,000 f. to 25,0001.
Surely they might be left to deal with so practical a sum at
their own discretion. Let parliament limit, if it pleased, the
amount of the borrowingpower, and limit the time to the Is!
of April next. Let them leave the provision as to the rat
in aid where it stood, and he did not see bow the distresses
unions could injure themselves till parliament met again.
Sir G. LEWIS said the hon. gentleman's argument was
not consistent with itself, or at all events the arguments of
hon. gentlemen who thought they agreed with him were
not consistent. What the hon. member (Mr. Cobden) main-
tained was that the house ought to let the Lancashire
unions do what they pleased with their own property ; for
the too. gentleman said they were men of such sturdj
independenoe that they would prefer relieving the poor out
of their own resources rather than accept the aid of thei
neighbours. But the hon. gentleman also said that if they
gave the guardians an alternative between borrowing and
accepting a rate in aid, they would be certain to take the
rate in aid, unless some inducement were given them b
borrow. He (the right hon. baronet) must say that thi
latter suggestion was extremely likely—unless, indeed,
boards of guardians in Lancashire differed altogether from
boards of guardians in every other part of the country.
Mr. COBDEN denied that he had ever mid anything
the kind. What be had said was that the bill had been
altered from a multiple rate to • fixed sum, and he shook'
like to know at whose instance. Certainly it was not
the instance of his (the hon. gentleman's) constituents. At
excess of two-thirds would be a very low fence—indeed
some of the parishes had already gone beyond it : but he
contended that the Lancashire people were such sturdy and
independent men that they admitted the justice of the
alteration to sa, only they contended that they ought
to have the power of borrowing on their own
property as soon as they pleased. The right honour.
able baronet's mind must have been in the clouds,
or studying astronomy, (laughter) certainly, he
could not have been listening to him (Mr. Cobden). Hi
could, however, see the tendency of the right hon. gentle-
man's remarks—it was clearly au attempt to raise a schism
between the parties which had beaten thegovernment ',ester-
day. (Hear, hear.) That could not however be done ; for
the manufacturing unions had no desire to throw themselves
upoo the property of the agricultural thee. All they wanted
was power to raise money on their own. (Hear, hear.)
Sir G. GREY said the bon. meniberhad forgotten 'lathed
passed with reference to the surrender of the multiple rate.
It bedlam gives up, not in consequence of any pressure exer.
cited privately upon the government, but at the suggertics
of the honourable sod gallant gentleman oppout.
(Colonel Patten), and of the noble lord (Lord
Stanley) who, though member for East Lyno,
had • great intermit in Lancashire. They represented
that a 'arab where the rates, owing to its prosperity, had
wily bee* wisp's°, in the puuod, would be entitled to a rate
in aid when they reached ten pence, whereon • much
pariah having ordinarily heavier rates would not be atlecT
receive assistance till it. benlene had been enormously in
creased. He (Sir G. Grey) did not wish to discuss this
question on the of any particular union interest. (Hear.)
The practical question before the house was simply the as-
cend reading of the clause, and that be thought they might
without farther discussion agree to.
Colonel PATTEN believed that he had been the first
suggest a multiple rate, and he still thought that that would
be the best plan.
Lord STANLEY thought it would be better to have r
fixed amount at which the rate in aid should come into plaj
but he had alwa contended that, in addition to • rate
aid, power be given to borrow money. (Hear, hoar.,
Sir G. LEWIS said it was not Ia coasequeotis of his not
having listened to the debate, but because be had listened
to It, that be had mode the remarks commented 00 by
hew. member for Rocidele. (A laugh.)
Ik. 0011 DEN—I did not say you had not listened to
debate. blind you bed not listened to me. Moan/
Pk C. LEWIS—WeII, it would be recollected at
ride that hew whl there was an imoseietescy between
the argaussola of the hon. gentleman, and of those Mho
diringlat they were supporting him.
Hr. HENLEY wished it to be distinctly understood wl
wiembi be the position of individual parishes, because if