The Sun.
London, England, 1855-03-14 00:00:00

IRELAND.

Mr. J. BALL then rose to move that it is expedient
that more effectual means should be adopted to improve
the education of pauper children in Ireland. After point-
ing out the great numbers of children that were at pre-
sent inmates of the Irish workhouses, he complained of
the low salaries that were given to their schoolmasters,
of allowing them to mix with bad characters among
the adult inmates, and of the paucity of industrial edu-
cation. Ho dwelt also upon the fact that both Catholic
and Protestant children were in some cases left without
teachers of their own persuasion, and though he ad-
mitted that no rule could be laid down on this question,
he hoped the Government would be prepared to apply
some remedy to the evil. The hon. gentleman had pro-
ceeded for some time in his address, when an hon. mem-
ber moved that the house be counted, but forty mem-
bers were found to be present, and the lion. getleman
proceeded, and urged that larger salaries should be
given to the pauper teachers, with a. view to secure a
higher class of instruction.
Mr. BOWYER seconded the motion.

Mr. T. KENNEDY supported the motion, and at the
same time urged upon the Government the necessity of
making better provision for the teachers of the National
school.

Mr. HORSII.A.N cordially concurred in the objects
of the resolution. The root of the evil lay in the defi-
ciency of the law, which did not compel the poor-law
guardians to provide adequate means of education ; for
many parishes, however, the guardians had, of their own
accord, instituted a superior system of education in their
schools. He thought it would be unwise in Government
to check these local exertions by a national grant, but
he could assure his hon. friend that the Government
would not lose sight of the question, and that they would,
by every possible means, give their support to an ex-
tended, improved, and unsectarian system of education.
He hoped his hon. friend would withdraw his motion.
The discussion was continued by Mr. Burke Roche,
Mr. Seymour Fitzgerald, Mr. Scully, &c., after which,
Mr. BALL replied, retuning to withdraw his motion,
as he contended that Ireland should be put upon the
same footing with other parts of the country as to the
receipt of public money.
Lord PALMERSTON—The hon. gentleman speaks
of equality between England and Ireland. Now, let us
see how the account stands. Let us take Irelan! first,
and see what sums are paid for her out of the public re-
venue :

Irish constabulary £650,000
Assistant barristers
Expemes of prosecutions
Crown solicitors

£750,000
Showing a total for Ireland of 750,000/. per year. Now,
let us sie how the English side of the account stands
• Expenses of prosecutions £250,000
Education in workhouses 22,000
half of medical expenses 90,000

£352,006
Makin, 362,000/., as compared with 750,0001. ix be-
hind. (Laughter and cheers.)
Mr. F. FRENCH—What about the judges of the
county courts in England ?
Lord PALMERSTON—They are paid by fees.
(Cheers.)

Colonel DUNNE would delay expressing his opinion
fully until they came to •the civil estimates, when he
would do so, and he would show that England had much
more than her share. There, for instance, was the build-
ing of this house. (Laughter.)
Mr. FRENCH—There was the educational grants for
England. Ile hoped the hon. gentleman would not shrink
from pressing this matter to a division. He Loped the
Irish members would stand together whether the Go-
vernment liked it or not.

Mr. GROGAN must say the speech of the noble lord
at the head of the Government was the most extraordi-
nary and unjust speech he had ever heard in that house
from a Minister of the Crown. The speech of the noble
lord clearly proved that Ireland was most unjustly
treated, for the agreement at the time of the Union was
that Ireland should bear only the 2.l7ths of the national
burdens. (Hear.)
Mr. WILSON—The county court judges were not
paid out of the consolidated fund, but otxt of fees derived
front the courts.

Mr. FRENCH—And what is done with the fees in
the assistant-barristers' courts in Ireland ? They go to
the Crown.

The. house then divided, when there appeared—
For the motion
Against it
The motion was consequently lost.
VACATING SEATS IN PARLIAMENT.

Mr. WRIGHTSON moved for leave to bring in a bill
to alter and amend the Act 6 Anne, c. 7, so far as re-
lates to vacating seats in Parliament ou the acceptance
of office.

Mr. FRENCH—If the Government thought such a
measure as this necessary,why did they .not take charge
of it ? (Hear.)
Mr. HENLEY did not see that any good would re-
sult from the measure. _ _

Mr. WALPOLE thought this would be a fitting time
for the Government to consider the state of the law with
reference to offices generally, and how :far office should
operate as an exclusion from or cessation of Parliamen-
tary representation.
Lord PALMERSTON said the bitt would be con-
sidered by the Government at a future sttage.
Leave was then given to bring ia .the, bill.
METROPOLIS COMM.UNICA TIQNS.

Mr. JACKSON moved for the a., Tointment of a
j select committee to inquire into the staff to and condition
of the several communications to and i.v the metropolis,
including the bridges over the Thames and the ap-
proaches thereto ;to report whether the communica-
tions and approaches are adequate to the present and
increasing traffic to and in the metropolis, if not, the
best mode of improving the same, and •o:hether it will be
desirable to have one or more bridges over the Thames,
and the best mode, out of local funds, ,of providing the
cost of such bridges, and of improving t7ti e said communi-
cations and approaches, and throwing open to the public
the toll-paying bridges.
Agreed to.
Mr. BROWN was about to move far certain returns
connected with the Belfast corporati on, but being op-
posed, did not press his motion for the present.
Lord 'PALMERSTON told the lion . gentleman that
it was was usual to lay some Parham( fltary ground for
the return, and to state for what purpot le it was needed.
Mr. BROWN would state his won ttd if the noble
ked.
Lord PALMERSTON—When you no ove for it again
will do.