The Express.
London, England, 1848-07-19 00:00:00

being read,
Sir IL NV ILLOIIOIIIII7 objected to the bill as calculated
to press heavily on the agricultural interest. At a time when
the British farmer was about to be forced into competition
with all the world, it was hardly lair to impose new burthens

on him.
Mr. G. HEATIICOTE felt bound, in consequenc of nu-
merous representations from influential constituents, to op.
pose the further progress of the bill. Th-t farmers dreaded
increaaed expense from new commissioners, and great incon-
venience from the system of centralisation contemplated by
the bill. Ile thought that at least the bill should be made
permissive and optional instead of compulsory as at present
intended. II any member moved for postponement he should
feel bound to support the motion.
Mr. CHRISTOPHER defended the bill, and reminded
the house that it differed miterially from the measure of last
year. That bill was open to the objection of centralisation
and paid commissions, and for that reason he hid opposes'
it. But the present measure left the contr .1 of the highways
generally t s the local authorities. Ile trusted that govern-
ment would persevere with it. as nothing could possibly be
more obit ctionable than the present condition of the high.
waysof England. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. RICE supportA the bill, but hoped that the mead-
nery might be made less cumbrous and expensive.
After an observation from Lord GALWAY, which did not

reach the gallere,
Sir G. GREY complained of the opposition, seeing that
government hal undertaken the conduct of the bill in defe-
rence to the wish, of the house. If one party objected
centralisation, and another to lolnca' control, the end would be,to
that there would be no improvement of the highways at all.
Mr. HENLEY aid that the people generally knew no-
thing shout the bill. It had been be ore a sel, et committee
which had completely altered it, and now the house was
called upon to pass is, having had only two or three days for
inspection and consideration. He feare ' that the machinery
would create great delay, and that the present officers would
be dead before the new ones were fairly inducted into their
places. lle hoped the bill would be postponed till next ses-
sion, when it was probable some measure would be passed in
respect to the turnpike roads, which, as the railway system
became more fully developed. required new regulations, es-
pecially in regard to the staff maintained, which WWI the
same as when the revenue was much greater. lie would not
say whether the two questions of highways and turnpike
trusts should be amalgamated or not; but at all events that
was a subject for grave consideration before they decided
upon imposing upon the country such a cumbrous machinery
as this bill sought to establish. Unless the bill was so altered
as to allow it to be put into operation in parts of counties, or
in the whole, so might be moat deiira^le, he shoul4 feel it
his duty to move that the measure be put off till that day six
month', and he would conclude by musing an amendment
to that effect, which he said he would press, unless the right
hen. gentleman could give an assurance as to :he point to
which ho had alluded.
Sir U. GREY said it was impossible for him to give any
assurance as ti what might he done with a clause which bad
not yet been considered in committee.
Mr. It. PALMER was of opinion that the measure oug'it
to be delayed until next session.
Sir W. HEATHCOTE should vote for going into com-
mittee, as he objected to raising debates at this stage on a
hill which had already been considered by a select committee ;
but unless the measure was materially altered he should op-
pose it at the third reading.
Mr. HODGES was in favour of p +opening the bill, many
of the provisions tit which he thought most objectionable.
Mr. DRUMMOND condemned the measure generally, as
another mode of increasing the public debt.
Mr. C. LEWIS recommeuded that they should go into
committee, when the objections to the several details night
be considered. He denied that the machinery of the bill was
expensive; on the contrary, ha believed that by appointing
paid and responsible officers to manage the highways in each
district, a positive saving would he affected. Should the house
hereafter pass a meaeure on the subject of turnpike roads, he
believed the machinery of this bill might, without any mate-
rial alteration, be adapted to it.
Mr. NEWDEGATE urged that the principle of the mea-
sure, as re-introduced, had not yet been discussed, sad that
up in a measure which so changed the existing law ample
opportunity fur discussion should be given befdre they were
called upon to assent to it. He hoped government would
not press legislation far the mere purpose of legislating, end
that because leg;slstion had not been rapid enough during
the session they would not :once a measure like the pretent,
whieli was as oejectionable for what it di I not an for what it
did, prematurely through the house. Until ho h..d full
opportunity t f considering all the provisions of the bill he
for one must distinctly refuse t r proceed with it. lie par-
ticularly objected to the means of givl .g employment on the
highways in periods of depression in manufacturing dis.ricte,
like the one with which he was connected, being taken away,
as they would he by this bill.
Mr. BROTHERTON thought the bill a great improve-
ment on the present tirtem, and that it would lay the
groundwork tor further improvement with regard to turn-
pike roads.
Mr. BUCK supported the amendment, an ! stroagly con-
dem ed the practice of adding to the expensesof the country
by hills of this nature.
Mr. C. LEWIS, in answer to an observation from Mr.
DAVIN, intimated chat it was intended to bring in a separate
hill err the six South Welsh counties.
SirJ. DUCK WORTH admitted that the bill wauld effects
great change in the law for regulating highways, and if that
change was objected to of course the objection went to the
principle of the measure ; but he thought it would be &hi-
rable, seeing that the subject had been now before parliament
for two years, and as the select committee had been unani-
mous iii favour el this Timms; that they should go into com-
mittee and endeavour to arrive at a satistactory settlement of
the question during the present session. lie was decidedly
of opinion that the measure, by introducing a uniform sys-
tem, would lessen the expense.
Mr. SLANEY supported the bill as a measure of eco-
nomy and general advantage, and as substituting a certain,
&scientific, and uniform system for one that was uncertain,
unskilled, and varying according as suited the convenience
of the farmers to whose management the highways were
now entrusted, and who were changed every year.
Mr. O. GORE denied that, under the present system, the
officers who managed the highways were changed every year,
though their accounts were required to be made up and pre-
sented twice in every year. He thought it was due to the
agriculturists that they should have an opportunity of fully
considering this measure betore it was forced upon them.
He would cf nsent to go into committee, provided govern-
ment would not press the bill further during the present
session.
' The house divided—For going into committee 88
For the amendment
The house then went into committee.
Clause I was postponed.
Clause 2 was agreed to after some verbal amendments.
On clause 3 being proposed,
Capt. PECHELL suggested that in all county boards the
memle re for the several boroughs in such county should be
ex officio members of the board.
Mr. G. C. LEWIS did not attach any importance to the
rettntiou of ex officio members of the board.
Sir J. TROLLOPE thought that it would be better not to
have any ex officio members of the county board, but that
they should be elected by their brethren at the quarter

se.tarns.
Mr. PALMER (Berkshire) concurred in the opinion ex.
pressed by the hon. baronet.
Mr. R. DRUMMOND, Mr. CHRISTOPHER, Mr. NEWDE.
GATE, Sir J. DUCKWORTH, and Lord GALWAY expressed
similar opinions.
Mr. DRUMMOND (Surrey) moved to strike out the