The Sun.
London, England, 1853-07-30 00:00:00

The clause was put and negatived without a division.

. Mr. BRIGHT then moved the introduction of a clause
'Providing that suitable offices should be erected or
procured for the East India Company and the Board of
Control, if possible, under the same roof. All had acknow-
ledged the great delay and inconvenience that arose from
having the two departments located two or three miles
apart. It was said by a writer on India, that the Presi-
dentship of the Board of Control was the penal office in the
Cabinet. He hoped that reproach would no longer attach a
to it, and, as it was now raised to the dignity of fin to.
class office, with a first-class salary, that the right
tions to the discharge of his important duties.at
Lead.
honour-
able gentleman would bring first-class talents and eTxehre-
salaries of the clerks and officers of the company
r Thenaird'Mothle.
euhall -stree2ts aololunspteltoinuppewnasiidons
pensions; and
there were ,
allow-
ances, &c., 18,000/. morn; law expenses, 4,0001., and so
on altogether amounting to 187,000/. The Board of
Control cost nearly 3;),000/. ; and thus the two depart-
ments cost upwards of 200,000/. Yet it was said that the
chief part of the government of India must take place in
India. Why the Board of Inland Revenue had been
transferred to Somerset-house, with a great advantage and
a great saving, the buildino. in Broad-street having been
sold. In the same way the building in Leadenhall-street
might be sold, and the produce would pay for the erec-
tion of new offices near Downing-street. No one could
pretend that the administration of Indian affairs would
not be improved by the arrangement. There could be no
inconvenience or expense, and the directors might come
up by the ld. steamers, or altogether in an omnibus ; and
a cab was only is. 6d. (A laugh.) If the right hon. gen-
tleman opposed the clause, it was to be hoped that be
would do so on some reasonable ground; but the clause
was so just and reasonable that he (Mr. Bright) hoped the
right hon. gentleman would cmsent to it.
The clause was brought up and read a first time, and on
the question that it be read a second time,

Sir C. WOOD said he could not forfeit his character for
modesty by alluding to the increased salary voted for his
office farther than to say that he conceived his responsi-
bilities were greatly increased by, the present measure, and
he would do his utmost to discharge his duties. He agreed
that if the offices of the company and the Board of Control
were consolidated it must be at Westminster. And the
change would probably be accompanied by the establish-
ment of a system of single government, under a Secretary
of State. On that subject the arguments on both sides had
been repeatedly discussed. Under a double goverment,
however, he did not see the advantage of the two woesbeing under the same reef ; and, indeed, it might endanger
the independence of the Board of Directors. The board
could not but have duties and business to discharge in Lead-
enhall street, which could not be done in Downing-street.
He did not believe that there would be any considerable
saving effected by the change. The mere purchase of
grounpd near Downing-street for government offices had
been recently negociated at an expense of nearly 300,0004
—a most numerous sum for a simple site. He did not be-
lieve that any delay took place practically prejudicial to
the public service by reason of the separation of the two
offices.
Mr. HUME said the whole affairs of India being con-
ducted under chock and control of the Board of Directors,
required the establishment at Leadenhall-street. He was
sensible of the advantages of consolidation, but was not
prepared at the present time to consent to the abolition of
that establishment. There was ample employment for all
the energies of the directors in the affairs of India ; and
he suggested that they ought not to be connected with any
other public bodies.
Lord STANLEY said there had not been a single reason
given against the clause. (Hear, bear.)- It seemed a mere
question of time. (Hear, hear.) The Indian government
was rapidly approximating to the single form, and when
that system was established consolidation must ensue.
That being so, it would follow that the sooner the change
was effected the better. (Hear, hear.) As to the expense
it was really inconsiderable. (Hear, hear.) The majority'
of the directors were not engaged in other business, and if
these offices were to become so important as it was now
contended, they ought to concentrate their attention as
much as possible upon their duties. He believed that the
double system of offices doubled the chances of business
being neglected, since a double staff of subordinates relied
on each other, and. had a divided responsibility. (Hear,