The Sun.
London, England, 1863-06-19 00:00:00

THE RATE IN AID.

In reply to Lord G. CAvENnisn,
Mr. VILLIERS said that the act did not expire until
the Ist of September.

INDIAN REGIMENTS.

In reply to Captain JERVIS,
Sir C. WOOD said that officers retiring under the Indian
regulations would attain the step adverted to. The officers
referred to in the second question, mainly consisted of those
belonging to disbanded regiments. The regulations re.
ferred to in the third question had been agreed to three
months ago.

SALT (FRANCE).
In reply to Mr. TOLLEMACITE,
Mr. LAYARD said that the French had appointed a
commission on the subject, which had concluded its labours,
but the report had not yet come into the hands of the Go-
vernment,
THE LISBURN ELECTION.—PROPOSED PRO-
SECUTION.
Mr. COLLINS gave notice that to-morrow, in going
into committee of supply, be should move a resolution on
the subject of prosecuting persons who had been guitty of
bribery at the last election.
PUBLIC WORKS (MANUFACTURING DIS-
TRICTS) BILL.
Mr. VILLIERS, in moving the second reading of this
bill, said it was the natural result of the inquiry announced
by the Government several weeks ago, for the purpose of
ascertaining whether the circumstances of certain towns
and populous places in the counties of Lancashire and
Cheshire were not such as to offer resources for the employ-
ment of the unfortunate operatives who for so long a period
had been deprived of their ordinary occupation. That in-
quiry was prompted by an anxiety on the part of Govern-
ment, at the continued dependence of so large a proportion
of the working classes in a given spot upon charitable and
parochial relief. And though there was every reason for
feeling satisfied, and even grateful, that adequate means had
been found for the maintenance of so numerous a body of
working men, it was impossible at the same time not to be
alive to the consequences of such numbers for so long a
time deriving their maintenance from these resources. Bat
the bill was also introduced in presence of a slight prospect
of reviving trade, and of a manifestation of uneasiness on
the part of the operatives at their continued state of idleness.

The house would remember that there was a very general
feeling in the community that something should be done to
place these people in a healthier position; and for that rea-
son it was determined to direct a competent person to pro-
ceed to those districts where it might be supposed indepen-
dent labour could be provided, to institute the necessary in-
quiries. There was no delay in the course to be pursued, for
within a few days of the discussion in that house the gentle-
man selected by his right hon. friend the Home Secretary,
namely, Mr. Rawlinson, proceeded to the spot, and in a very
short time they were able to lay his report upon the table of
the house, He believed that Mr. Rawlinson had been hap-
pily selected for the purpose, and, among other reasons, on
account of his being a native of one of the counties con-
cerned, and of his intimate knowledge of the districts.
He thought he might say that their mission was welcome,
and they were everywhere welt received bythe local autho-
rities. Every information was given, because thereby as-
sistance was afforded to the operatives. He only mentioned
that, as showing that every means had been adopted to ob-
tain information, which fact was important in reference to
the results. It happened that everything which was anti-
cipated proved to be correct. The towns were reported to
be in a state to afford great facilities for the employment of
unskilled labour in the construction of new works, without
suspending ordinary labour. The first report of Mr. Raw-
linson, the engineer, led to the conclusion that that was the
case, and from first to last he had adhered to his original
opinion, namely, that there were ample opportunities for
the construction of new works that had long been much
needed in those districts, and which would afford employ-
ment for all the unskilled operatives then out of work. (The
right hon. gentleman then quoted some extracts from Mr.
Rawlinson's report in confirmation of his statement.) Mr.
Rawlinson had reported that he had not only communicated
with the local authorities, but with the operatives them-
selves, who assured him that their only cause of regret was
that they were not employed the whole day upon the works.
Mr. Rawlinson went on to state that in his opinion
£1,500,000 might be well and 'profitably spent in public
works, such as sewers, recreation grounds, drainage, deepen-
ing, cleansing, improving, and embanking rivers, and other
similar undertakings. This, it should be borne in mind, was
not an engineer's report made for an ordinary professional
purpose, and therefore Mr. Rawlinson did not pretend to
say that those were works which unskilled operatives could
perform alone. He then accordingly proceeded to show

different classes of works, and what portions of them could
be accomplished by unskilled hands. These consisted
chiefly of levelling waste lands, making suburban roads.
cleansing rivers, and some other works of that
kind. In calculating the application of this
£1,500,000, Mr. Ra whnson was necessarily obliged to
come to the conclusion that not more than £451,600 of it
could be profitably expended upon unskilled labour. After
stating that £690,000 of the amount %I ould have to be ex-

pended in the purchase of materials, he alluded to the cir-
cumstance that, although the apparent relief to the local
rates was but £451,000, the actual relief was much greater,
because the bulk of the money paid to the skilled labourers
would no doubt be expended in the neighbourhood of the
works. In recommending that report to the earnest con-
sideration of the house, he thought it would not be inappro-
priate to call attention to the statement in that report as to
one of the districts referred to. He alluded to Haslingden,
as a fair sample of those numerous towns which had sprung
up in a short time, and possessed considerable population
without any local governing body. The population of
Haslingden was 10,000, but to this day the houses were
undrained, the roads unrepaired, and the streets unpaved.
There was no system of sewerage, fevers prevailed to a great
extent, and the whole place was but a typo of many others
of the kind in Lancashire. Altogether there was found
throughout those reports ample evidence of the positive
necessity for works of the character suggested, It was un-
fortunately the fact in all parts of the manufacturing dis-
tricts that when their prosperity was at its highest point,
the smallest attention was paid to domestic and sanitary im-
provements. Nevertheless he felt it his duty to state that
however desirable those works might b-, there were ob-
stacles to be overcome before they could be effected. Those
obstacles were partly financial, and partly legal. With
respect to the financial obstacles, it was not difficult to
imagine that many of those townships, being already in
debt, the ratepayers would naturally be reluctant to incur
charges not absolutely necessary ;so that, unless they could
contract loans on easy terms, there was little hopeof their
embarking in those public works. So far as h s had ascertained
they could not readily raise money upon the security they
had to offer at much less than .5 per cent. He thought it
not unreasonable that they should ask the assistance of the

State to raise the money at a more advantageous rate. benefit himself. But then came the question, would the
It would be no inconsiderable matter in raising those cotton operatives be benefitted by emigration ? When deal-
large alms to enable them to make a difference of nearly ing with the agricultural labourers, whose normal rate of
li per cent., and, looking at the precedents upon which wages was 96. or 108. a week, no greater blessing could be be-
the Loan Commissioners had formerly been empowered stowed than to transfer them to the wealthy regions of Aus-
to act, the Government felt disposed to make that con- tralia or America, where their labour was in demand, and
cession. A case had, they thought, been established, not- where their earnings were instantly doubled. But that did
withstanding attempts had been made to draw distine- not hold true in the case of the cotton spinner or weaver.
tions between those instances and the present. It was Send them to Austria or Canada, and when there they
quite clear that the Loan Commissioners had liberty to would find no demand for their labour. There were no
guarantee money employed in that way, and he saw no cotton mills in either country, and, as a rule, nobody bone •
reasonfer giving one case precedence of another. The fitted himself by changing his business after he had arrived
last instance occurred at the passing of the Corn-law Bill, at years of maturity. He might benefit himself by trans-
and wassomewhat remarkable. In anticipation of possible ferring his labour to a field of operations where there was
injury to the agricultural interest, £2,000,000 were placed more demand for his skill, but not by changing his avoca-
at
the disposal of the Loann Commissioners, to enable pro- lion. But, besides that objection to such a course at this
penaation for the l
prietors to drain their la
ton ; but he sva,, taeT,
land. That was supposed to be com- particular crisi.4, there was the still stronger objection that
to Le sustained by foreign comps- all wholesale systems of emigration had proved not only
occurred, and the
£2,000,000 afterwards, had been
whll to
say that no such loss had inoperative and disastrous, but also sometimes most cruel,
the amount and another (Hear, hear.) We had in 1847 a wholesale system of emi•
out in improvement of the land, and a advantageously laid gration. What happened ? Wretched people were hur-
been lost. If the Government conseiLt-t sixpence had ried away to Canada and America ; several thousands of
money when no evil actually existed, sure': advancesth of them died on the passage ; upwards of 10,000 of them died
Surely,
tehPerreikent when they landed in Canada and America; and such a cry necessity would be ample justification.
posed
advance,
,?f horror came across the Atlantic that Canada and America hoped the house would not object to the pro
tote condition. It was proposed now to send away the
With regard to the legal difficulties, they consisted chiefly both
Passed laws p ohibiting their immigration in a desti-
ouYt cotton
works. deficient powers either to borrow money or to carry
works. It was quite clear that some of the place; had to makPeopulation by like emigration; but were we prepared
already exhausted (or nearly) their borrowing powers ; and shores ? prfouvielion for them when they landed on foreign
in others there were no powers at all. But to enable those gentlemen in Dro,rsheetar.) It was cheap philanthropy for
places to avail themselves of the L , oPal gov9rnmeut Mt of " We6VA" shire, or where they wrote letters from
--(laughter)—to ‘
titlY, ' Send them away—.
_ -sat