The Sun.
London, England, 1853-05-02 00:00:00

PRISON DISCIPLINE.

Sir H. HALFORD wished to ask the Secretary of
State for the Home Department, with reference to a
petition from the Justices of Peace for the county of
Leicester, in Quarter Sessions assembled (presented 20th
April), whether it is in contemplation by her Majesty's
Government to introduce any measure for adaptation
of the law regarding prisons to the system of the
individual separation of prisoners, as applied to those
under sentence of hard labour, and generally in order
to carry out the recommendation of the select com-
mittee of this house on prison discipline in 1850
Lord PALMERSTON said he presumed this ques-
tion applied to a communication which was made
to his predecessor by the magistrates of Leicester.
The magistrate of the Leicester Prison established a
rule in the prison, that persons sentenced to hard
labour should be employed eight hours a day turn-
ing a crank, and if they objected or refused to
do so they gbould be deprived of a certain portion of
their daily meals. That regulation his predecessor, how-
ever,
decided was contrary to law; and if the hon. baro-
net„ who put the question wished to know whether it was
the intention of the Government to bring in an act to
legalise Buell a regulation, his answer must be that it was
not.

BOLTON ELECTION.
Lord R. GROSVENOR brought up the report of the
Bolton election committee, declaring Mr. T. Barnes and
Mr
ttee .J. Brooke to have been duly elected. The also com-
portedre that the petition was frivolous and
vexatious.

PIRACY IN BORNEO
Mr. T. BARING wished to ask
First Lord of the
Admiralty whether any, or what
adopted by her Majesty's Government
to measures have been
commerce against piratical proceedings p British
Borneo ? on the coast of
Sir J. GRAHAM said representations had been made
to the Government on this subject ; and in
consequence
of these representations, orders had been sent out
Rdmiral commanding on the West India station, trequest-
ingto the
him to exercise his discretion in taking precautionary
measures against any anticipated acts of piracy. At the
same time, orders had been given to the admiral that
there must be some evidence of piratical intentions be-
fore force was resorted to, and further the admiral was
informed that it was not the. policy of the Government
coerce or make any accession of territory on the main
to
land of Borneo.

SAVINGS BANKS.
Mr. W.EIALLEY w d to afford furtished to ask the Secrehery prote ta of the
Treasury whether it is intender c-
tion for savings banks deposits, and generally to provide
for the more economical administration by the Govern-
ment of these institutions.
Mr. WILSON said his right hon.riend the Chan
"Ilor of the Exchequer had akeddy givfen notice of hie

intention to bring in a bill for improving the manage-
ment of savings banks, and that intention he still ad-
hered to. His right hon. friend was only deterred from
putting it in force now by the position of the budget.
HACKNEY CARRIAGES BILL.

Sir R. H. INGLIS wished to ask his lion, friend the
Under Secretary for the Home Department, a question
with reference to the Hackney Carriage Bill. The par-
ties who were pecuniarily interested in the bill, were
anxious to have it referred to a select committee. He
wished to know if his bon. friend would have any objec-
tion to such a proposal, if it was made at the proper
time.

Mr. FITZROY certainly should deprecate the idea of
referring the bill to a select committee, because it would
lead to great delay, and might defeat the passing of the
bill this session. It was a measure in which the public
were very much interested, and he should, therefore, be
sorry to see it delayed in any way. (Hear, hear.)
Sir R. H. INGLIS wished, then, to know at what
time the hon. gentleman would bring on the discussion
of the next stage of the bill ?
Mr. FITZROY replied, to-morrow night he hoped to
see the bill in committee. He would not, however,
bring it on after 12 o'clock.
TEA DUTIES.

Mr. MOFFATT wished to know when it was pro-
posed to bring in the regulations for effecting the reduc-
tion of the tea duties, and if it was intended they should
take immediate effect ?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said
the course which the Government proposed to take,
after the vote on the income tax should be disposed of,
was this :—They would then take the legacy duties ;
after the legacy duty it would be proposed to take the
second reading of the Income Tax Bill. It would be
proposed to take the second reading of the Spirit Duties
Bill, and after this to go into committee on the Income
Tax Bill, the Government not wishing to loose any time
in carrying this latter measure through its various stages.
After that bill should have been disposed of the Go-
vernment would at once proceed with the whole of the
resolutions relating to the Customs duties, and it was in-
tended that these resolutions should take effect from the
time they were agreed to, and reported to the house.
SECONDARY PUNISHMENTS.

Sir J. PAkiNGTON wished to know when it was
proposed to make the Government statement on the
subject of secondary punishments ?
Lord J. RUSSELL said that was a subject which
was likely to lead to considerable debate, and he could
not therefore name a day for bringing it on until after
the commercial plans of the Government were disposed
of.