The Sun.
London, England, 1863-07-02 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARILAXE3

HOUSE OF COMMONS—Last Evening.
The SPEAKER took the chair at quarter past 12.
LONDON, CHATHAM, AND DOVER RAILWAY
(No. 1) BILL.
Sir MORTON PETO moved " that the order for the
second reading on Monday next be read and discharged,
and that the bill be read a second time to-morrow." He
complained that the hon. member for Stafford (Alderman
Sydney) yesterday, acting for the City of London, took a
step with respect to this bill without communicating with
the agents, utterly opposed to the ordinary practise of the
house, and which he was quite justified in stigmatising as
more like the practises of sharp barristers at the Old
Bailey than worthy of a member of that house, to which, he
apprehended, an apology was due. The course he had
adopted in no way affected the viaduct over Ludgate-hill.
Mr. Alderman SY DIVIEY said he took the step he did as
an independent member. He desired to prevent the dis-
figuration of the town. If, however, the parties would per-
mit tne city authorities to appear against the bill in com-
mittee, he would support the rescinding of his motion of
yesterday.
Mr. MASSEY intimated that on Monday he would
propose the standing orders be suspended, so that the bill
could be proceeded with in the ordinary way, and without
classification.
After some discussion the motion was withdrawn on this
understanding.
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES BILL.
Mr. EWART, in moving the second reading of this
into
ebtflel, enteredhtto e
country a at some length into its purpose. The object
g
ttainoefd
theby
andwa
metthrieeeilnter3osotriemction
this of
cesstully in France and several
weights and measures, which
olhad
theloenongtrneernkteeld
evoeuerytarniecs:
The system would facilitate trade,u and be. found most use-
fulit
adopted, n sanwdoommthh
in keeping the national accounts
the revenue. The plan,tleocthieontwo!
eavceel
ac-
companied by a decimal system t ce'
Isir. BAINES seconded the motion.
Mr. HENLEY opposed the bill, because
its inconveni-
ences would tar outweigh its conveniences.
Mr. LOOKE dwelt upon the anomalies' in the present
system of weights and measures, especially upon the absurd
difference between troy and avoirdupois weight, and the
wine bottles of the continent, especially of Germany. He
should vote for the second reading, because it would be a
step in the right direction, but should be glad to see the
subject referred to a select committee so the' it might be
thoroughly investigated.
Mr. P. URQUHART supported the bill. The various
weights and measures throughout the country were very
i
confusing, and to bring them all nto =tonality was
iia-
peratively demanded. The introduction of the new system
into the Government establishments would save X 500,000
a year, which would enable the Government to reduce the
income tax i halfpenny in the pound.
Mr. ADDERLEY supported the bill. The time had
arrived when a new and common sense system ought to be
adopted, which would lead to an enormous augmentation of
the wealth of the country .
Mr. BAINES strongly supported the bill, and qu.oted
the opinions ot the various Chambers of Commerce inte-
rested in the home and foreign trade in its favour. Re
held that it would not be difficult to introduce the system
into our schools.
Sir M. r ALQUHAR considered that this bill would
work well, if endowed with a permissive character, so that
the people might become gradually used to it. He appre-
hended that there was no hope ot the bill being passed in
the present session ; he trusted, however, his hon. friend
would re- introduce it next year, and he was satisfied that so
excellent a measure would meet with very liberal sup-

port.
Mr. HUBBARD denied that the manifold benefits indi-
cated had sprung out of the decimal system, and neither
would ite adoption in the future. He was in favour of
leaving things as they were.
Mr. COBDEN was in favour of the decimal system. All
enlightened men, except perhaps Lord Overstone, were in
favour of the change. The witnesses examined before the
committee last year, of which he was a member, were over-
whelming in its favour—some of theni, Professor de Morgan
among the number, testifying that its :adoption would save
half the time of boys at school, as far as arithmetic was
concerned. When engaged in Pails during a period of
six months on the international treaty his time
was greatly occupied in changing the description of
prices from one language to the other, and he confessed
that he felt humiliated at the dislocated, incoherent, and
inconsistent nature of the English system as contrasted with
the logical, symmetrical, and consistent plan adopted in
France. They were all agreed that the system of weights and
measures ought to be altered, and as it was full of absurd
anomalies and illogical disagreements, no time should be
lost in introducing an amended system like the one
proposed. A new system must, however, include
a decimal system of coinage. There were difficulties in the
transition of course, but the Board of Trade could easily
overcome that difficulty. A facile list of equivalents would
easily be understood. He appealed to his right hon. friend
the President of the Board of Trade (Mr. M. Gibson) to re-
solutely take the matter in hand.
Mr. FERRAND held that if the measure was to be com-
pulsory, it ought to be compensatory also. Small shop-
keepers and others ought to be reimbursed the value of their
weights.
Mr. M. GIBSON had not a word to say against the me-
trical system, but he feared that a compulsory measure,
with a combination of new names for old ones, would not
at once be very acceptable. The committee which sat on
the subject reported to this effect. He feared the public
was not prepared for so sweeping a change as the one
suggested. The avoirdupois pound and the standard
yard were the only legal measures ; all others were illegal,
and penalties could be recovered by a common informer.
He could not consent to a compulsory measure, and advised
ihe hon. member to withdraw it and introduce a permissive
bill. It took Portugal ten years to pione,r the system,
and now they were about to make it compulsory, bat if we
were expected to act differently in this country, all he could
sa), was that he feared it would be requisite to call out the
volunteers to enforce it.
Mr. BAZLEY supported the bill. He said the decimal
system was then used in the customs and excise so as to
arrive at general quantities.
Mr. ROE BUt. K hoped the Government would consent
to the second reading.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the
Government would only delude the house it they ventured
to give any encouragement to a compulsory measure.
Mr. HODGSON asked the bon member (Mr. E wart) if
he would consent, in committee, to omit the compulsory
powers sought ?
Mr. J. B. SMITH supported the bill, as also did Colonel

Sr S•
Mr. EWART would withdraw the bill, if the Govern-
ment would facilitate it in the schools and elsewhere.
of
Mr. M. GIBBON could not, off hand, give any Pledge
the kind.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL said was altantaiakseort;
it
speak of a compulsory clause—the bill wss '''
throuhout.
Theg house divided, when there appeared-- . 110
************** ''gym".. : tA. Ls 'Es.: supporter: of
For the second reading .................... ~,-.
Against it .. .1.19.30.r.a.y.
The result elicited much cheering
the bill.
The bill was then read a second time'
were then disposed of, end
BILL.
SHEEP, &c., CONTAdO7/5
VENll:this bill.
rteesibefore six o'clock.
Mr. HOLLANDv:ttiI
The other orders of
the house rose all:______.--_____