The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-05-26 00:00:00

THE NORTHERN TIMES.---LIVERPOOL, TUESDAY, MAY 26, 1857.

under several items of the army estimates, moved that a
select committee be appointed to investigate the subject.
The amendment failed for want of a seconder.
After a brief discussion as to the form in which the
estimates were drawn, the house went into committee, and
Lord Palmerston rose to present the estimates, explain-
ing that Sir John Ramsden being, from the short time that
he had held office, but slightly acquainted with the items,
it devolved upon him to lay them before the house. He
deprecated the ruinous system of keeping up large military
forces in time of peace, but at the same time urged upon
the house the necessity for maintaining establishments
adequate to the defence of our numerous colonial
territories. He adverted to the advantages in the camps
at Aldershot and the Currab, in perfecting brigade majors
in the evolutions of our army, and contended that the
expenditure for this purpose was not an extravagance.
Proceeding to explain the items of the estimate, he stated
that the number of men for the field train, artillery,
hospital staff, and engineers, showed au increase
as compared with 1853 and 1854 of 6,000 men, '
arising from the creation of new corps, and the
retension of stipernumeries and subaitarns, who would
otherwise have been Oistnissed at the close of
of war. The total increase of charges as compared with
1853-4 was £636,000, arising from increase in dismounted
cavalry, engineers, and artillery, in fortification of
coasts, for improved barrack accommodation, military
education, and :government ma ufacturies. The total
estimate for the year 1853-4 wa5;£7,704,000, and estimates
for the present year were £9,025,000, showing an increase,
after deducting the diminution in expense by not calling
out the yeomanry and the diminution in the non-effective
corps, of £1,611,000. He boiled the house would agree to
the votes proposed, and he would endeavour to effect a
considerable reduction next year. On the first vote of
£2,921,017 in addition to £1,467,000 already voted for the
pay of the land forces at. home and abroad,
A discussion arose,
Lord John Russell observing, that next year there would
be a loss of four millions and a halt from income tax, and
about £500,000 from tea duty, urged the necessity for a
very considerable reductien of expenditure. He hoped that
before parliament met again, more economical estimates
would be prepared, especially as regarded the civil service.
The next vote proposed of £359,005, in addition to
£186.000 already voted for miscellaneous charges of the
land force at home and abroad, exclusive of Eerie, led to
a discussion upon the settlement of the German Legion at
the Cape, and
Mr. Adderley proposed to reduce the vote by £50,112,
the sum for buildings for the German Legion.
Mr. Labouchere held that it was now too late to oppos
the vote, the men having been sent to the Cape.
Sir John Walsh thought the government had made a
bad bargian, but believed it now too late to remedy it.
The amendment was then withdrawn, and the vote was
agreed to. A vote of £33,282, in addition to £14,000,
for the volunteer corps, and £123,909, in addition to
£53,000, for the departments of the Secretary at War and
the Commander-in-Chief, were also agreed to.
The Chairman then reported progress
- M MINISTERS'MONEY (IRELAND) BILL.
. . . .

Lord Palmprston announced his in;ention of taking
charge of the Ministers' Money (Ireland) Bill.
The other business was disposed of, and the house
adjourned at half-past twelve.