The Express.
London, England, 1847-05-14 00:00:00

FREE TRADE AND LABOUR IN JAMAICA.

Mr. HUME rose to call the attention of the house to ■
petition, signed by 4,000 persons, praying for free trade for
that colony, and for an additional supply of labour, as
requisite for the prosperity of that island. Up to the pre-
sent hour the greatest impedimenta had been thrown in the
way of the prosperity of Jamaica. It was impossible for the
colonists to compete with other countries in the present state
of the labour market, in which the supply was at present
very defective. Last session the government had given an
assurance that nothing in their power should be wanting
to supply the della/my, but he believed that very
little had yet been done. He admitted that the
colony had been benefited by the change which had
taken place in the duties on rum ; but this would not
be sufficient without a better Ripply et labour.
He knew there were some who would say that this would
be tantamount to the promotion of slavery. For his two
part, however, he regarded the effect as likely to relieve the
slave. It was undoubted that the more ships we had to op-
pose slavery, the greater was the cruelty perpetrated on the
slave. He concluded by proposing a general resolution on
the subject.
Mr. BARCLAY supported the motion.
Mr. HAWES said the petition brought under considera-
tion had been agreed to in Jamaica tome time before the
recent measures of government were taken to promote emi-
gration from Africa to our West India colonies. During the
last few years the demand for labour in the West Indies had
been materially relieved. Since the emancipation, Jamaica
bad imported 8,000 free labourers; and British Guiana,
33,000. The government, as be had stated before, had jut
sent a vessel to carry emigrants from the Kroo coast to the
West ladies, and though be could not think that this mea-
sure would have any very sensible effect upon the labour
market of the colonies, yet, if the experiment succeeded, the
effect must he to give a great impetus to any sound principle
of emigration promoted by private enterprise.
After a few words from Mr. F. WlEuxeis and Sir T. D.
ACLAND, the motion mu negatived without a division.
LEITH HARBOUR.

Mr. O. CRAIG obtained leave to bring in a bill for
proving the harbour snd docks of Leith.
TRADING IN SEDUCTION.

Mr. SPOOlsTiii roes to move for leave to bring in a bill
for the more effectual suppression of the trading in seduction
and prostitution, and for the protection of females. He said
that having stated his views at length on a former occasion,
be should not trouble the house at any length on the present
occasion. He merely wished to mention some alterations he
had made at the suggestion of the right hon. baronet the
Secretary of State for the Home Department. The
bill u altered simply provided that any person trading
in seduction for lucre should be liable to prosecution
for misdemeanour ; and any person convicted of keeping
• brothel, should have any contract by which be held his
house made void, at the discretion of the court. He could
not conceive that there could be any objection to the bill in
its present form.
Mr. HUME objected to the time of the house being taken
up with matters of this description. (Hear, hear.) He
believed that discussions like the present would be attended
with a great deal of mischief, in drawing people's attention
to subjects which they would not have otherwise thought of.
(" Hear, hear," and a laugh). He was surprised that
a man of his hon. friend's experience should think
that ts..e reform he contemplated could be effected
by legislation. Let his hon. friend form a league for the
promotion of virtue, and himself set the example, and more
good would be done than could be effected by a doaen acts
of parliament. (Laughter.)
Sir G. GREY said, that as the hon. member hadoonsented
to alter his bill at the suggestion of the government, he
trusted the house would permit its being brought in.
Mr. HUME knew nothing of any arrangement, and must
persist in dividing the house.
The house divided— For the motion 57

Against it
MEDICAL REGISTRATION
Mr. WAKLEY moved, in pursuance of notice, that the'
subjects of the registration of legally qualified practitioners
in medicine and the state of the laws relating to the pny
lice of medicine in Great Britain and Ireland be referred for
consideration to a select committee, with the view of arriving
at some well defined and effectual system of registration.
Mr. T. DUNCOMBE seconded the motion.
Sir G. GREY thought the plan proposed was preferable
to the prosecution of the hon. member's bill on the same
subject without such inquiry. Ile hoped the result would
be some satisfactory measure of legislation.
Mr. WAILLEY hoped the inquiry would terminate suffi-
ciently early to enable him to embody their recommendations
in his ball.

Mr. 8000NER said the medical practitioners were
anxious for the passing of a measure of 'medical registration.
The motion wee agreed to.
THE HOSIERY MANUFACTURE BILL.
. .

Sir H. HALFORD proposed to fix the adjourned debate
on this bill for Wednesday, the 9th of June.
Mr. W. ELLIS hoped the bill would be withdrawn alto-
gether. It bad occasioned rcuch agitation in the trade, and
would operate most injuriously.
Sir J. C. HOBHOUSE also treated that the bill would be
withdrawn. The mode of ]etiolation proposed would in-
volve the hon. member In difficulties of which he had no
ides, and occasion much confusion amongst the menu
facturen and artless's. The bill wee an attempt to raise
wens' by act of parliament.
Mr. PACER remarked that the bill had received the
approbation of the commissioner who had been sent down
to inquire into the state of the trade.
Mr. T. DUNCOMBE hoped the boo. baronet would per-
severe with the bill ; he had presented several petitions in
&VOW of it. That the working classes were not repreeented
In parliament wearoiroid by the fact, that the system of gross
extortion and practised by the middlemen on the
workmen was and every attempt at legislative
remedy, or even inquiry, opposed.
The motion forigjoarnmeat wee thee agreed to.

LOAN DISCOUNT BILL.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQER, in moving the
second reading of this Lill, suggested that the currency de-
bate which had arisen on a previous evening on this bill, and
which he presumed it was the wish of the hones to resume,
should be taken on the motion for going into committee,

which stage be proposed tri take te-morrow (this day), na
hoped there would be no objection to this comae, nee wss
most desirable that the measure should pus with as Bich
delay as possible, His noble friend had fixed the Rag.
way Dill for to-morrow, but he had already armni4
with him that the Loan Discount Bill Mould be,
precedence. The Poor Law Bill would then stand fee
Monday, and to-morrow his noble friend would state oewbae
day he proposed tobritm forward the Railway mu.
Mr. MASTERMAN inquired whether aim remnanti
proceed with the bill for advancing the 620,000 k
rri7hd to
rail ways to- morrow.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER hid already
stated that the currency debate would have precedence to
morrow, and he expected it would occupy the whole evening.
Atter a few words from Mr. HUDSON, the bill was read
second time.

- PREVENTION OF SEDUCTION BILL.
Mr. SPOONER moved the first reading of his ameadel
bill on thin subject.
Mr. C. BERKELEY said be should move that the bill h
read a first time that day six months.
The gallery was cleared for a division ; but they; beim
only 21 members present (17 of whom voted for the bill sal
4 against it), the house stood adjourned, at 20 minutes berme
one o'clock.