The Express.
London, England, 1861-08-03 00:00:00

BANDA.PRIE MONEY.

Sir C. WOOD 'tettWlTie TeTiiytoTiii;iinsine bon. member,
tbst the subject of the distribution of the Banda prize
money due to General Whitelock's force, was under the
consideration of the government.

ITALUR AFFAIRS.

Mr. NEWDEGATR thanked the noble lord at the head
el the government for the explanation he had given in
referenceto the position of affairs in Italy. At that moment
Italy was the victim of disturbances created by the Jesuit
party in Rome, and history showed that the same date of
things had been produced in every country where they lost
power. The modern history of Mexico showed that this
party was also as mach attached to absolute power
when in the hands of • president as when in
those of • monarch like that of Naples. Re
trusted that atriogeot measures would be taken to free
Italy from those. political mar•eders, bemuse that must be
done before there would be any hope of peace or freedom in
that unhappy country.

THE STRIKE.
Mr. AYRTON presented a petition, complaining of the
government having given Mr. H:Boa.,builder, the services
to of moldier' enable him to men his contract for the
erection of new berm/int at in consequence of
his having been deprived et his ordinary workmen
by a strike. He stated that when he entered into
the coetract, Mr. Higgs paid ht workmen by the day, but
he had since introduced the plan of paying them by the
hour, which the workpeople considered objectionable, de-
moralisiog, and injunoini to their interests. They noose-
quently declined to continue in his employ, and as only
about 25 out of 400 builders had adopted this obnoxious
system, the contractor was unable to obtains sufficient nun-
her of workmen to complete his contract. He therefor* *p-
i l ied to the government for assistance, and the Wavelike seat
him some Sappers and Miners. This naturally crested great
astonishment among the working classes generally, and they
said that the government ought not to let out to a private
contractor soldier' of the army for his own individual bear
fit. The only justification for such a course was, that it
was necessary that the works should be completed at a very
early period. (Hear, hear.) That might be a good reason
for rescinding the contract, and putting it in the hands of
some other party who could command the proper amount
of labour, but not for the intervention of the government in
the way be had mentioned. He hoped the government
would withdraw from the position be believed they bad in-
advertently been drawn into, and allow employers and
workmdo to mettle their disputes among themselves.
Sir C. C. LEWIS said that when the contractor for the
barracks applied to the government fur assistance iu conse-
quence of the difference with his workmen having left him
with an insufficient number of hands, the War Department
Bare him the services of some Sappers and Miners. A corn.
puny was furnished to Mtn, and it was arranged that he
should pay for their services according to a plan which had
been previonaly pursued. The object of the Witr.office was
to accelerate the work, as that was a matter of impsrtanee
to the army, and not in may way to interfere in any
dispute between the employer sad his workmen, although
incidentally it might have had that effect. The Secretary
for War did not contemplate that any such feeling would be
produced as the bon. member had adverted to, but it had
been represented to him in strong terns that the men con.
sidered that this was an interference on the part
of the government in the going on between • por-
tion of the masters in the trade and their work-
people, and it undoubtedly was a great object that the
government should always bold a perfectly neutral position
upon questions of that kind. (Bear, hear.) Under three
circumstances he had tamed Notice to be given that on the
let of September the system objected to should be dis-
continued. (Hear, bear.)
Sir M. PETO said that as perhaps no member of the