The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-02-06 00:00:00

PUBLIC INCOME AND EXPENDITURE

Mr. WILLIAM 3 moved for a❑ account of the gross public
income and expenditure of the United Kingdom, in each
quarter of the year 1855, stating the cost of the collection in
each of the revenue departments, including the Woods,
Forests, and Land Revenues of the Crown, made out in the
same form as the account of the net income and expenditure
in the quarterly returns represented to the House. lie com-
plained of neglect in the management of the Crown lands,
and declared that there had been a squandering of £lll,OOO,
which ought never to have been permitted.
After some explanations, the motion was withdrawn.

BOROUGH AND COUNTY POLICE

Sir GEORGE GREY moved for leave to being in a bill to
render more efficient the police in counties and boroughs in
England and Wales. The bill would provide that, in the
place of the option that was left to justices to provide an effi-
cient rural police force, under the present Constabulary Act,
it should, for the future, be a compulsory obligation, and when
it was found that in any county or borough the police force
was particularly effective, the Treasury should be authorised to
allow a sum of money, ❑ot exceed one-fourth of the expense of
the police of such county or bcrough. In the course of his
address the right honourable baronet stated, as showing the
inefficient working of the present system, that in Stockaort,
with a population of 50,000, there were only fiftee❑ constables.
In Wigan, with a population of 32,000, there were only eleven ;
and in A•hton.under-Lyne, with a population of 30.000, these
were only seventeen constables. Facilities were afforded by
the bill for the consolidation of counties and boroughs, for
police purposes. With regard to the expense of the measure,
he was convinced that it would not be more than £220,000 or
£230.000 a year.

Sir. J. PAKINGToN expressed his satisfaction that the
Government had taken up this important question, but he did
not think that the assistance promised was sufficient to induce
counties to establish an efficient police force. He highly ap-
proved of the proposition to compel counties to provide an
adequate rural police ; but he thought that the bill might have
been improved, by a provision, making it compulsory on small
boroughs to amalgamate their police with the county force, and
by fixing a minimum proportion of police to population.
Mr. DEED:;, Mr. RICE, and
,Lord LOUVAINE, generally
approved of the measure.
Mr. B. PALMER thought that a portion of the expense of
the increased police forces in counties and boroughs, ought to
be paid out of the consolidated fund.
After some further discussion, leave was given to bring in
the bill.

EARLY CLOSING MOVEMENT.

Mr. BROTHERTON moved a resolution to the effect that the
debate on any business under discussion at twelve o'clock,
should stand over to next day of the sitting of the House,
after which no opposed business should be proceeded with, and
that whenever the House should be in committee, on any
evening at midnight, the chairman should report progress and
resume. He was convinced that such an arrangement would
facilitate rather than retard public business, and would give
satisfaction to the public.
Mr. EWART seconded the motion, creating some amuse-
ment by observing, that the effect of the present late hoer
system was to render the habits of members irregular, and to
drive ministers prematurely from their seats.

Lord PALMERSTON said they were sent to that House for
the transaction of public business, and it was their duty to
attend to that business, notwithstanding the numbers of hours,
or days, it occupied. Giving full credit t:) Mr. Brothcrton for
the motives which induced him to make this motion, be did
not think that such a principle could bo adopted, consistent
with the advantage of the public service.

Mr. IV. IVILLIAms supported the motion, and expressed
his conviction that as much time was wasted in the discussion
of bills, which it was never intended to pass, as was spent in
sittings after twelve o'clock.
Mr. BASS remarked that the business after twelve o'clock
was transacted in a most slovenly manner, and, for that reason,
he should support the resolutions moved by Mr. Brotherton.
The House then divided, when the numbers were—for the
motion, 50; against it, 111. Majority against the motion, 61.