The Sun.
London, England, 1862-07-14 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS-THIS EVENING.

The SPEAKER took the chair at 4 o'clock.
The Great Western Railway (Oswestry, Shrewsbury,
and Ellesmere Lines) Bill was read a third time and
passed.

THE PULTENEY HARBOUR BILL.
On the motion for the consideration of the Lords' amend-
ments to this bill.

Mr. HODGSON moved the omission of the clauses pro-
viding for compulsory pilotage..
Mr. MASSEY (chairman of committees) took technical
exception to this amendment, and contended that the
proper course to be pursued in regard to a private bill was
that it should be recommitted.
After a short discusssion the amendment was negatived,
and the bill was considered and ordered for third reading,

DISTRESS IN THE MANUFACTURING
DISTRICTS.

Mr. HIBBERT asked the President of the Poor-law
Board whether, in the present and prospective state of dis-
tress in the manufacturing districts, he was prepared to
bring in a bill for the purpose of enabling Boards of
Guardi ,ns to borrow money, with the consent of
the Poor-law Board, for the purposes of relief ;
such loans to be borrowed on the security of the rates, and
to be repaid by instalments extending over a period of not
wore than seven years.

Mr. VILLIERS thanked the hon. member (Mr. Hib-
bert) for having postponed the question until the present
day, as it had afforded him an opportunity of ascertaining
whether adequate !Jeans existed for meeting any distress
that might arise in the manufacturing districts by giving
the poorlaw administrators power to raise money if necessary
for any special emergency. He had communicated with
the very intelligent gentleman who had been sent by
Government into the manufacturing districts to
institute inquiries into the circumstances of the
locality, and he regretted to say that within the last
week or ten days the tone of this gentleman's letter was
not so hopeful as previously in respect to the distress of the
district. It appeared, however, that in Lancashire only 17
per cent. of the population were receiving parochial relief,
while in other parts of the kingdom the percentage was as
much as 19. At the same time there was no
security that in that locality those who were at
present ratepayers would not shortly be the re-
cipients of parochial relief. Under these circumstances he
considered it was desirable that these districts should be
carefully watched, in order that relief should be provided
during the re-ess, if it were found thfit the poor rate was
not adequate. He could assure the hon. member and the house
that every attention would be paid to this important sub-
ject by the Government and the department under which
ho (Mr. Villiers) presided during the recess.
In reply to Colonel WILSON PATTEN and Mr. COBDEN,
Mr. VILLIERS said that the report of the Government
Commissioner could be inspected at the office of the Poor_
law Board. As regarded the act of Elizabeth, be believed
ower of
it would be found to he applicable to the existing circum-
stances, by giving to the local authorities a.p
making a rate in order to meet special, emergencies.
DISTRESS IN THE WEST OF IRELAND.
In reply to Mr. SCULLY,
had been made
into the alleged distress in the West
0f Irelnd, but the
result was not considered sufficient to justifya the making
Sir G. GREY mid that a careful inquiry
of a rate in aid on the couatties adjoining the districts
where the distress was stated to
prevail.
BILL.
BLEACHING AND DYEING
In reply to Lord T. MANNERS,
Mr. M. GIBSON said
at this stage of the session
couldthat
be carried, and therefore he
did not propose to proceßO
FOR EXPENSE)
he did not think this bille
VISION proceed with it at present.
FFORTIFICATIONP
BILL.

d other hon.
to Mr.
ITnherehpolyuse wentoinstnooCßOilastitreeFo.nst7,liniTsibr:ianl.
members, wris said.that in order to afford hon. mem-
Sir G. LE
ample opportunity of discussing the question
members
d in the present bill, he proposed that it should be
involved
recommitted. Government was anxious that the subject
should receive full discussion, and when'the bill had been
recommitted he would give the house all information in his
power. in order to carry out that object, if it were neces-
sary, Government would not object to protract the session.
After some discussion the house divided on the motion of
Sir H. WILLOUGHBY,—Tbat the chairman should report
progress.
Ayes .................
Noes ................ ...
105
Majority -27
The motion was accordingly negatived.
On the vote of £llO,OOO for Portsdown forts,
Mr. MON SELL moved that the vote should be reduced
by £70,000. He quoted the authority of Admiral Den-
man and other distinguished naval officers to show
that the defence of this country could be best provided for
by iron-clad vessels, and that the house ought not to be
required to lay out large sums on the construction of forts,
the utility of which was doubtful. He ridiculed the idea of
any successful invasion of this country takingplpaocewt
which
with the
the power of concentrating troops on a given point
existed, provided also that there was adequate floating
battery maintained. He contended that the construction
of the forts on Portdown Hill was a matter that did not
require any technical militacroyuldli beno decided
at the
pre-
sent day to understand it, but edbym enof
s common sense, and he contended that their forts were
I shown to be a lavish expenditure.