The Sun.
London, England, 1862-04-02 00:00:00

IRISH WORKHOUSE OFFICERS,

Mr. BLAKE asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland
whether he intended during the present session to take steps
to carry out the retommendation of the Select Committee
of last session on Irish Poor Laws, with reference to grant-
ing superannuation to workhouse officers ?
Sir R. PEEL said that last year the repOrt of the com-
mittee was received, and it was sanctioned by Government
that a bill on the subject should be introduced, but as a
separate bill. He could not, however, say when that bill
Would be brought forward.

LUNACY REGULATION BILL.

Mr. PHILIPPS asked the Secretary of State for the
Rome Department when he intended to introduce the
Lunaey Regulation Bill ; and whether such bill would con-
tain s.ny provision for the purpose of facilitating the build-
ing of a lunatic asylum by counties united for that pur.
Pose ?
Sir G. GREY said that a bill was drawn up on the sub-
ject in accordance with the recommendations of the com-
mittee which sat on the matter. He could not say when it
would be brought forward, as the Government had received
some important communications from the Lunacy Com-
mission which required consideration.
THE ARMSTRONG GUNS.

Mr. 11. BERKELEY asked the Secretary of State for
War whether, adverting to the probability that guns of
much greater calibre must now be placed on our seaboard
forts, and iron-plated ships, Sir William Armstrong was to
have the exclusive manufacture of such guns, or was their
construction to be thrown open to competition ; and, of
What calibre was the largest gun com plated intended for
practical service as yet made for Government by Sir Wil-
liam Armstrong, and proved without accident to the breech
or bursting ?
Sir G. LEWIS said that the Government had no con-
tract with Sir William Armstrong, but they had with an
iron works company in Essex, which had been appended to
the report of the commission on military organisation. By
reference to that report, it would be seen that if govern-
ment did not carry out their contract with that company
they would have to forfeit £85,000 for loss of plant. With
regard to the Armstrong guns, there wore several under
experiment, including one with a smooth bore, which would
throw 3001b5.; and another with a rifle bore, which would
throw 600 lbs. Some of a smaller calibre had been tried,
and found very successful.
PRISON OFFICERS IN IRELAND.

Inreply to Sir G. BOWIMR,
Sir It. PEEL said he understood that the prison officers
in Ireland were not satisfied with the retiring allowances
they had received, but as he was informed, it was not the
intention of the Government to introduce any bill for an
improvement in their situation.

ACCOMMODATION FOR PASSENGERS AT
' HOLYHEAD.
Mr. LEFROY asked the Secretary to the Admiralty
when the accommodation and protection promised to be pro-
vided for the mail packets and for passengers, landing on
the wooden jetty at Holyhead, would be provided, in com-
pliance with. the agreement made between the Admiralty
and the LOridon and North Western and Chester and Holy-
head Steamboat Company ?
Lord C. PAGET said that a sum had been taken in the
estimates, which would come before the house on Thursday
next, by which provision was made for the object alluded to
by the hon. member.
ADVANCES AND REPAYMENTS ORDERED.
In reply to Sir C. NORTECOTE,
Mr. F. PEEL said that the account of the advances and
repayments ordered on the 17th of February last would be
shortly laid on the table, but the 3 had been delayed for the
purpose of making them more perfect.
IRISH BILLS

Mr. P. URQUHART asked the Chief Secretary for Ire-
land whether he meant to proceed with the committee on
the Poor Relief (Ireland) Bill before the Easter recess : and
whether he meant to proceed with tho other Irish measures
before the Easter recess ?

Sir R. PEEL said that he was not able to make greater
progress than he had done with those bills. He was afraid
he would not be able to proceed with the Poor Law Bill
before Easter—(hear, hear)---hut he should do all in his
power to press it on.

WEST HARTLEPOOL RAILWAY-BREACH OF

PRIVILEGE.

Mr. FARRER drew the attention of the house to a
matter personal to himself, in which a breach of privilege
had been committed. His hon. and learned friend
the member for Sheffield brought forward a motion
the other evening with a view to the appointment
of a select committee in reference to a private
bill, and in a petition which he presented certain charges
were made to which he thought it right to give a denial.
Having alluded to some correspondence which had taken
place with a gentleman whose name was connected with the
company in question, he said the breach of privilege of
which he complained was contained in an article
in the Stockton Gazette and Middlesborough. Times, and
the writer described his (Mr. Farrer's) statement as a " de-
liberate lie." He would not call en the house to summons
the printer of that journal to the bar of• the house, but ho
thought ho would be unworthy of a seat in Parliament if
he did not bring forward this subject. (Hear, hear.)
Sir G. GREY said he thought the hon. member should
not pass over this matter, but he thought his (Mr. Farrer's)
high character was quite refutation sufficient of such a
charge, (Hear, hear.)

THE EASTER RECESS,
In replyi.,.. to Mr. DISRAELI,
ThuZaliA-LMERSTON said that he would state next
the East' v,
or
recess.t ‘en Government proposed :to adjourn for
COMPETITIVE
EXAMINATION IN THE CIVIL
Mr. II ENNis SERVICE.
uThat this hr 55 movol the following resolutions :
procuring contrete4 °f orinion that the best mode of
in the Civil Service pore) to to fill the junior clerkships
°vend be through a system of com-
petitive examination
all sajects of the Queen
who fulfil certain definite coantltions as to age, health, and
character ; and that, with
system of open cGinpetiijoje7t of establishing such a
;a desirable that the
experiment first tried in the
India ouao in 1859 be re-
peated from time to time in the other u
Presented to departmentsher of the
Civil Service : that an humble address
Majesty on the foregoing resolution.
Mr. VANSITTART seconded the motion,
Mr. COCHRANE moved, as an ameednlent
many of the qualities constituting a rood " That
officer—good principles, good habits, sound judgment,
general intelligence, and energy—cannot be tested
by any plan of public competition; the introduction,
therefore, of such a system into all the departments of
the public service would be very injurious to their an_
ciency." He ridiculed the description of examination to
which candidates for the civil service were subjected.

Mr. PEACOCKE seconded the amendment.
Lord STANLEY apnroved or the present system, which
being found to answer in one branch of the public service,
was most reasonably extended to another.
Sir G, C. LEWIS deprecated repeated discussions upon
regulations so long sanctioned by Parliament, and briefly
described the nature of the examinations sanctioned and
aPPToved by Government.
considerable dimassion, in. the course of which
4(41. Menittril approving and disapproving competitive

examinations re-affirmed the arguments of preceding years
the amendment was negatived without a division.
Sir G. C, LEWIS then moved the previous question.
Sir C. WOOD seconded this amendment.
The house then divided on the previous question :
Ayes
Noes
The motion, therefore, was not put.
FIRE INSURANCE.
Mr. 11. B. SHERIDAN asked leave to introduce a bill
to reduce the duty en fire insurances. The hon. member
stated the amount of reduction provided for by the bill,
and pointed out its effect upon the revenue, contending
that were his proposition adopted, it was clear from cal-
culations in his possession, that the revenue would
ultimately be greatly benefited. The amount of
revenue which the Chancellor of the Exchequer was
requested to abandon by the reduction of this im-
politic tax was under a quarter of a million sterling, and
that immediate loss could easily be replaced by the sale of
Government stores or wooden ships, which recent events
had now proved to be useless. The tax was levied only
upon insurers, while that class of the community who never
insured avoided it altogether; it was, therefore, most un-
reasonable, unjust, and impolitic.

Mr. HADFIELD seconded the motion,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCIitQUER considered
the subject both 'upon precedent, upon principle, and up,n
facts, and expressed a hope that the house would at once
meet the question, because it was mischievous to play Ns ith
taxation, and hold out hopes which obviously could never
be realised. Ho deprecated the speculative opinions of Mr.
Sheridan. They would do nothing towards meeting defi-
ciency and supplying the wants of the public service. He
further objected to individual members making isolated
motions for the reduction of taxation before the budget was
brought before the house. lie was not disputing or deny.
ing that an increase of duty would arise from a reduction
of taxation ; but the question was, whether this tax so
pressed upon them that its abolition should take precedence
of all others. It was their duty first to look at their means
and obligations before giving anything away, and if they
had a surplus to spare, to ascertain what tax had the
strongest claim for reduction. At present they were called
upon to express an opinion in the dark, and he therefore
hoped the house would meet the motion with a direct
negative.

Mr. MALINS contended that this duty upon fire
insurance was altogether unjustifiable, most inexpedient,
and ought to be abolished. He should, therefore, bupport
the motion.

Mr. HANKEY said the ohjection to this tax was, that
it was not levied upon equitable principles, and therefore
while leaving himself unfettered upon the second reading,
he should upon this occasion support the motion.
After a few observations from Mr. ROGERS and Mr.
NORRIS,

Lord PALMERSTON observed that his great objection
to the measure was the time at which it was brought for-,
ward. The natural course in such cases was to allow the
Government to propose their financial arrangements, and
not to enter blindfolded upon schemes which, perhaps, upon
fuller information, might prove not the most pressing upon
their attention.

After a few words from Mr. SEIERIDAN in reply,
The house divided, when the numbers were—
For the motion
Against it

Leave was then given to bring in the bill.
JUDGMENTS LAW AMENDMENT (IRELAND).
Mr. WHITESIDE obtained leave to introduce a bill to
amend the law of judgments in Ireland.

DEBENTURES ON LAND (IRELAND).
Mr. WHITESIDE obtained leave to bring in a bill to
authorise the issue of debentures chargeable on land in Ire-
land in connection with sales made by the Landed Estates
Court.

PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS.
Mr. BO UVERIE moved the appointment of a select
committee to consider whether it is practicable to provide a
compendious record of parliamentary proceedings for the
use of members. Practically there were the daily records
in the newspapers, and at the end of the session the journal
of the votes of the hoube, in which was accumulated au
enormous amount of matter, public and private, perfectly
immaterial for the members of the house to consider. The
ordinary records of their proceedings were cumbersome and
inconvenient, and there was no reason why they should
not have a "handy book" of reference as a short cut to
knowledge, which might very much facilitate the transac-
tion of business.

Mr. ESTCOURT thought that whatever was printed of
their proceedings should emanate only from the authority
of the Speaker.

Mr. WALPOLE was anxious that they should have a
compendium of their proceedings ; but if it would interfere
with the authority of the Speaker, he would oppose this
motion.

Mr. SCULLY believed they had a sufficient record in
the library. He moved that after the word " practicable"
should be inserted the word "expedient."
Mr. BOUVERIE assenting, this amendment was in-
serted in the motion.

Mr. NEWDEGATE thought the day would come when
they must have reporters of their own. He had seen a
work, by Mr. Toulmin. Smith, a record of their proceed-
ings, but there were the gravest objections to that work,
and also as an act of injustice to Mr. Hansard. This was
a great departure from all the precedents of that house, and
it might become the means of the greatest possible unfair-
ness as between the members of that house.

Lord PALMERSTON did not object to the proposal of
this committee. It was true they had valuable records, but
they were not easy of reference, and therefore it deserved
the consideration of a committee. He recommended great
prudence in the appointment of a committee.
The motion was then agreed to.
INDUSTRIAL AND PROVIDENT SOCIETIES