The Sun.
London, England, 1852-06-25 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS, June 24.

Their Lordships assembled at Five o'clock, tho Loma
CHANCELLOR presiding.
The Earl of RODEN presented a number of petitions
from different parts of Ireland against the Maynooth
grant, and praying for the inspection of nunneries.
ADULTERATION OF COFFEE.

In answer to a question from Lord TORRINGTON,
The Earl of DERBY said that it was the intention of
the Governtnent to rescind the minute of 1840, which
permits the admixture of chicory and other articles with
toffee; at the same time, as the simple rescinding of the
minute would leave grocers and others exposed to pro-
secution for keeping on their premises articles which
might be used for the adulteration of coffee, instructions
would be given to the Excise not to press for penalties
-where these articles were kept is separate packets, and
marked as being what they really were.
After a few words from the Earl of MINTO and Lord
BEDESDALIC, the subject dropped.
BENNET'S DIVORCE. _

Lord MOUNTCASHELL moved the second reading of
this Bill, the consideration of which, it will be remem-
bered, was postponed sine die. The Noble Lord entered
at considerable length into the circumstances of this case,
which were reported in our columns at the time they
were given at the bar of their Lordships' House.
The LORD CHANCELLOR opposed the motion.
The Noble Lord had introduced matters not upon the
evidence taken at the bar, and he had been guilty of the
great irregularity of referring to a speech asserted to be
delivered by him (the Lord Chancellor) at the conclu-
sion of the case. In vindication of the justice of their
Lordship's house, he (the Lord Chancellor), as wholly
responsible for the circumstance of the second reading
not having taken place, then entered into a detail of the
whole case. He moved the Bill should be read a second
time that day three months.
Lord BROUGHAM had entire confidence in the
judgment of his Noble and Learned Friend ;bairotm.
hea
called upon the House to reflect upon the most
in Parlia-
ment, a single
t an
lolls course taken in respect to Divorce
' not one of their Lordships having
word of the evidence, though they were called
pass a decision upon in
the Earl of MOUNT-
After a few words from
o
CASHELL,
The amendment was agreed to, and_ the Bill
was
nth or-
s.
dered to be read a second time that day three
STANDING ORDERS.
The Marquis of CL&NRICARDE then proceeded to
call the attention of the House to the standing,* order,
No. 185, with a view to the modification of the provi-
sions thereof in respect of Bills to be brought into Par-
liament in any future session. The order in question
was the " Wharncliffe" order, and rendered it impossible
to effect any change in the management of railways
without the expense of an Act of Parliament. This was
a great hardship upon the railway companies. The effect
of the order was to enable large companies to prevent
Parliament from considering any scheme of competition.
Re proposed to refer the order to the Standing Orders
Committee, with a view of considering the propriety of
' reducing the majority of shareholders now required to
sanction an application to Parliament from four-fifths to
three-fifths.
Lord REDESDALE said the object of the order was
to protect the shareholders from the directors of com-
panies, and if it had been feund to act oppressively,
there would Wave been more than the single case of the
Shrewsbury and Chester and Shrewsbury and Birming-
ham Companies to cite. He knew instances in which
the proportion of four-fifths had prevented injury being
done. As to the suggestion that the shareholders before
voting should have had their shares for a certain and
definite time, he thought it a valuable one; and with re-
spect to the proposition of the Nebio Marquis he thought
it better to refer the order to the consideration of a less
numerous Committee than the Committee on Standieg
Orders, and if any alterations were made in the present
regulations, it should be done on the fullest ant, most
intpal inquiry.
Mid HA` BERTON observed that the proportion of
four-fifths appeared to have been adopted by the Com-
mittee without any grounds being stated for that course,
and he was surprised that he bed heard no grounds
stated by the Noble Lord (lledesdale) for its adoption.
Wi:h reference to the specific case which had given rise
to the discussion of the matter on a late occasion, he
thought it hard diet the ironmasters of Staffordshire had
no means of direct communication with the coast by
railway. It was only by competition between the
various railway companies that that could be effected,
and if this order operated to prevent the establishment
of that competition, he thought a modification of it,
upon that and upon general grounds ought to be adopted.
He had no objection to three-fifths being the majority
instead of four-fifths.
Tho Earl of STRADBROKE thought that three-
fourths would bo a late majority.
The Earl of HARROWBY thought it advisable that
the standing order should be maintained, for the pur-
pose of preventing the interests of the great body of the
shareholders from being sacrificed to the jobbing of
directors.
The Marquis of L ANSDOWNE urged upon the House
the necessity of protecting the interest of the public.
Upon the subject of amalgamation, that was a question
upon which it was most important that their Lordships
should be able to pronounce nn unfettered opinion, re-
gard being had to the merits of the case. It was not to
be determined by the particular interests of small com-
panies, liable to be influenced in the various ways their
Lordships had heard described. But when the question
arose between two great and powerful companies, he
though they should look at it on public principle, and
see which of these companies was the most likely, with
reference to all the local circumstances, to become an
amalgamated body the most useful in providing for the
wants of the public. Now, he thought that if minori-
ties were allowed to settle these questions—and mnori-
ties might be tyrants as wel as majorities—their Lord-
ships might> find themselves in this position, that with
the strongest possible public case in favour of certain
companies to provide for a great line of communication,
they would be debarred from entering into its considera-
tion by small companies stepping in and availed them-
selves of the order of the House, and saying to their
Lordships that they could not and should not consent to
the amalgamation.
Earl GRA.NVILLE was of opinion that the House
was quite prepared to entertain the question without
referring it.
Lord BROUGHAM said that the question ought to
be referred, and that that should have been done three
years ago. • - mutt
Lord LYNDHMIBTL said there could be no doubt
that itislation upon thislubject was in a most unsatis-
factory state. The railway which had given rise to the
question was one of the utmost importance to the inte-
rests of the country, and it was altogether monstrous
that those interests should be defeated by combinations
amongst smaller companies. He admitted that the re-
cent decision of the Standing Orders Committee was
correct, and that there was no sufficient evidence to es-
tablish the charge which had been alleged against the
co lo -
or. Pa ny on that occasion; but it did certainly appear in
*um
_evidence before the Standing Orders Committee
ch- °lt a previous occasion shares were ostensibly pur-
of fasecithe e,ob y' and registheteredaccomplishment of ain the names oft e servants
object, spa y, for th
particular
- and he did not know what reason there was to
BUPP°Se that the same contrivance had not been resorted
to in the present instance. To prevent the recurrence of
ouch a melt-
he was convinced that the best step
would be te.;ataitlacee,
Lordships to reduce the proportion
of the majority 4'
The Earl 0 t
tlziees frOm four-fifths to three-fifths.
to the Standing 41Y
ll Committee
Preferred sending the question
to taking any hasty
step with regard to it
at the present moment. He was
not at all satisfied
that the best or most effectual mode of
dealing with it would he
- -fifths. to fix the majority at three-
fifths or fou•Batheby the
thought it would be a point
worthy consideration
step esolliulneo.C.ommtttee whether the
most effectual
shares of all persons who yotA:toeti to require that the
certain period before their ,4 should be held for a
effectual were given. That he
thought would be an
in future fm the against any com-
ingpany taking shares ,. . tne et,
of an influence over the aecisiou v rpose of exercis-
the proprietors'
meetings.
to. • er4 to the Com-
The motion for referring the quaktir_ .
The Consolidated Fund APPrePrta‘loo.o
mitt.. urea ultimately agreed . - ,
1 was read
a second time.
The Militia Ballots Suspension Bill wait
teed a second
time.
The Militia Pay Bill was read a Siee.°T24tik 4.
The Navy Pay Bill was read a third time.
h.
The Pharmacy Bill was passed through u°lalalttee.
rite Sunk Island Roads Bill was read a third ante.
SITITORS IN CHANCERY RELIEF BALL.
The House having gone into Committee on this jun,
Lord LYNDHURST moved the restoration, atter
01512" 45. of a clause which had been struck out by the
House. of Commons: relating to compensation to the of
floors in the Taxing Master's office.
The Earl of DERBY said it struck him that if they
increased the amount of compensation the other House
would scarcely acquiesce in it. He would suggest to
the Noble and Learned Lord opposite to postpone the
9onaideration of this question until he had opportunity
in a day of two of seeing how it was likely to be viewed
by the other House. Then the Noble and Learned Lord
would be better able to determine the coarse it would be
advisable for him to pursue. At all events he hoped
that the Noble and Learned Lord would not place so
much value upon his proposition as to risk the passing
of the measure by pressing his proposition at that
moment'. .
Lord LYNDHURST said that there were four of the
senior clerks to receive compensation for the loss of the
fees which they had been hitherto authorised to receive.
He thought it would be most unjust if compensation
were not awarded to the junior clerks also, in respect to
such fees, inasmuch as under the existing system they
would be entitled to occupy the offices of the senior
clerks, and of course to receive such fees in the event of
1045
acies occurring. He had therefore prepared a pro-
Kea to effect that object.
The LORD
jectito
sucii,CHANCELLOR, having made some ob-
onperiod of the aproviso being added to the clause, at a
Sessionao when it would be impossible to pass
the Bill if the House of Parliament should dissent
from the amendment"
Lord LYNDlittitsT .
that he, for one, could
never assent to what h, said
considered was injustice, in de-
ference to the will of the Hornet
Commons.
The LORD CHANCELLOR ofa
Government.
id that the Bill was
not theirs, but that of the late
Of Commons had kept it 50late The House
t before it came up to
that House, that it was impossible
o .make such an al-
teration in it as was proposed, without risking its safety
in the present session.. Now, he thenght the Bill, in its
main features, a most excellent rneeettre,
and ho would
be TV!'
sOrifik it by making any alterations in it.
la -Tnijeurelli RST saidthere wee, acme Curious
sasetiries'Ojett with this Bill. It was founded
.ivetaio-if LOwitutittee of the other 11010,
--:f
'T.:;:j.
i..--::.
...,),...-:j.:
c-,
-
•,..i.,_'
1......--:•
upon the
, one of the

~ _..