The Sun.
London, England, 1853-02-10 00:00:00

GOVERNMENT MEASURES.

Lord JOHN RUSSELL, in moving that certain
papers be printed, which he had laid upon
the table, said it would, perhaps, be conve-
nient to the house that he should state the course
which Government intended to pursue with respect to
the measures which would be brought forward in the
early part of the session. (Hear, hear.) He begged,
however, at once to observe that it was not
his intention, nor was it necessary that he
should make any statement with regard to the
general principles and views of the Government, as that
had already been clone by the noble lord at the head of
the Administration. (Hear, hear.) Government in-
tended, as soon after the estimates were laid upon the
table as possible, to bring under the consideration of the
house the various items of the year. (Hear.) With re-
spect to the navy estimates, he hoped on Friday se'en-
night to be able to ask the house to go into committee on
that subject ; but with regard to the number of men for
the army, navy, and ordnance, he could state, then,
Government had no intention of proposing any increase
beyond the number voted before the Christmas holidays.
(Cheers.) There would, however, be an increase in the
estimates ; and when the proper time arrived Govern-
ment would be prepared to justify that increase,
by reasons which they hoped would b 3 satisfactory to
the house. (Hear, hear.) Besides the estimates, a mea-
sure would be immediately brought forward to enable
the Legislature of Canada to dispose of the clergy re-
serves in the manner proposed by Lord Grey when at
the head of the Colonial-office. Hear, hear.)
The next question which would be brought under the
consideration of the house, would be introduced by the
President of the Board of Trade, who would propose a
measure respecting light dues and other matters' affecting
the shipping interest of the country, he should propose on
an early day that the house should resolve itself into a com-
mittee of the whole house with respect to the relief of
the disabilities affecting her Majesty's Jewish subjects—
(cheers)—and a measure would also be brought forward
on the important subject of education in England and
Scotland. (Cheers.) The next question of importance
to be introduced by the Government would be the con-
dition of our Australian colonies in regard to transpor-
tation. It was proposed to abolish transportation to

Van Dieman's Land as well as Australia, and in cons.

dering that subject the house would be called upon to
go into the general topic of secondary punishments.
Immediately after the Easter Recess, or as soon after as
possible, the Chancellor of the Exchequer would propose
his financial statement or budget for the year ; whilo in
a few days hence, the Lord Chancellor would state
the intentions of Government with respect to the
registration of the purchase and sale of land in
ment, with the view to proposing some plan for improv-
ing the industry of that portion of the United King.
loin, and as soon as the Chief Secretary for
Ireland took his seat, he would propose

he members of the select committee to whom

the house had agreed to refer the two important
measures on the subject of landlord and tenant in Ire-
land. (Hear, hear.) The next important subject which
he had reserved for the last in his enumeration was that
of parliamentary reform. (Hear.) Thee house was aware
that in 1845, in 1850, and in 1851, he endeavoured
to pass a bill for extending and improving the franchise,
and it had since been erroneously supposed that he was
favourable to a more comprehensive measure of Re-
form than that which this bill contemplated.
(Hear, hear.) Nothing, however, was further from
his intention, and those who had laboured under
this misapprehension must have misunderstood what he
had stated on the subject. (Hear, hear.) The ques-
_

tion, therefore, was whether the Government would
think it better to renew tke Income Tax for one
year, and devote the year to the consideration of a Re-
form Bill. He did not say that such a course would be
impossible in respect of time ; but to introduce such a
measure even shortly after Easter would require con-
siderable attention and deliberation on the part of the
Government. Considering the present state of affairs,
the Government had come to the conclusion that they
ought not to introduce any measure on the subject in the
course of the present session. In coming to this determina-
tion he believe they had consulted the public welfare, and
would be supported by public opinion. There was one
point with respect to which great complaints had been
made—he meant the existence of bribery and corruption
at the late general elections. There was no defect which
was so destructive of public virtue as this, but before in-
troducing any bill, it would be better to have the reports
of the Election Committees which would shortly sit. No
effort of his should be wanting to the framing of any
measure which it might be necessary to introduce on
the subject.

Mr. HAYTER gave notice that on Monday
the 14th nstant the Lord Advocate of Scotland would
move for leave to bring in a bill to facilitate the
procedure of the Superior Courts. On Tuesday the
15th, the Under Secretary for the Colonies would,
bring in a bill, to enable the Legislature
of Canada to appropriate clergy reserves, on Friday, the
18th, the navy estimatet would be laid on the
table, and on the 22d would be introduced a
measure for reform of the present system of light
dues ; and on the 25th a measure for the repeal of the
civil disabilities affecting the Jews.
The house then adjourned.

THE PRO JEOTED CHANGES IN THE POST-

OFFICE SBR VICE.

From intimations given for some time time past in
the Morning Advertiser, our readers are prepared to
learn that extensive changes in the administration of the
Post-office, are about to be introduced into that impor-
tant department of the public service. The alterations
in question are of a bold and comprehensive character,
perhaps more so than any similar ones have been since
the introduction of the "Penny Postage" scheme of
Mr. Rowland Hill in December, 1839 ; still it will be
seen that they are but a part of a grand whole, which
must eventually form the modus operandi necessary for
the full development of all the benefits to be realised
from the adoption of that most important measure of
social progress.
The contemplated alterations will embrace the whole
establishment. The London district, the general post,
the mail coach, the contractors, and the letter-carrying
departments will all be affected by them. Perhaps the

officers attached to the London district Post-office may,
at the commencement of the change, chiefly feel the
teration, and this is not to he wondered at, keiVuse
although for some ineeplicable reason this office has
been considered to be the lowest in the official scale), it
singularly happens that while the officers are, as com-
pared, with other portions of the establishment, "in
labours more abundant," and the receipt of salary much
less, that the revenue arising from that department is
comparatively much more than that of any other branch
of the service.

It is understood to be the intention of the autho-
rities at present to increase the number of London
district deliveries, the main object being to aece-
lerate the collections and the transit of the correspon-
dence before it reaches the hands of the letter-carriers.
Consequently, in order to effect this object, it will be
found necessary to make collections from the urban and
suburban post receiving-houses in the evening two hours
or more later than formerly. Bags, therefore, will be
brought to the General Post-office in St. Martin's-le-
Grand by band and by mail-carts, up to nearly eleven
o'clock at night. This will give to the public, both in
and out of the metropolis, a most valuable boon, inas-
much as they will be able, doubtless, when the subse-
quent regulations are made, to post letters, books, news-
papers, &c., two hours at least later than they now can
do. In order to work off this anticipated amount of
" duty " (as it is officially called) at the London district
office, it is proposed to engage a certain number of the
employes, who are to receive a trifle extra for the addi-
tional service they may thus be called upon to perform.
These officers will have to continue until the whole of
the letters, &c., collected as above, may have been as-
sorted. Mr. Hill, it is stated, calculates that this will
be done by half-past twelve o'clock, at the latest, but,
of course, that is more conjectural thsn otherwise, no
opportunity having been at present afforded of testing
the quantity of correspondance which may be forwarded
at such a late hour. • Aftet a trial of the proposition,
arrangements will be made so to increase the number of
men (sorters, messengers, &c.) on the Saturday evening,
as to prevent any of that night's work encroaching upon
the Sabbath day. In addition to that which has been
stated, it may be said, that the authorities have
also decided upon sending letter-sorters from the
district office to Rugby, so that on their way to
town they may arrange the London letters in such
a manner in the railway post-office during the up-
journey, that, upon their arrival in town, it will only
be necessary to hand them over to the carriers for de-
livery,

In consequence of these changes, it has been found
necessary to alter the time of arrival of the Eastern,
South-Eastern, and the Western collections brought in
by the mail carts. The 7h. 45 min. a.m. collection
will be done away with, and one at 9 a.m. will be
substituted. The morning dispatches will also be ac-
celerated considerably, so that not only will the inha-
bitants of the metropolis, raiding within the limits of
the " three-mile circle" from the Post-office derive
advantage, but an especial benefit will be conferred
upon all parties resident for many miles beyond its
environs.

Steps are also to be taken, as soon as is practicable
after the Ist of March next—the day upon which the
foregoing alterations will come into operation—to ac-
' celerate the general post morning and evening mails, but
at present nothing definite has been determined upon,
at least upon a large scale. Notwithstanding this,
however, the work of improvement in the detail of
the working of the establishment, and increasing the
facilities for the transmission of correspondence both
through the United Kingdom and the world at large,
are quietly proceeding, caution and care of the public
interests being the primary consideration of the autho-
rities in carrying out the various complicated, and in
many cases very difficult propositions which they are
called upon to consider.
It is to be regretted, however, while improvemen t
of the kind alluded to are being carried out with so
much alacrity on the part of the heads of departments,
that in such a vast national establishment as the
General Post-office, where the labour of the really
working man is by no means light, and the responsi-
bilities indisputably very great, so little regard is paid
to an equitable remuneration of the parties employed.
Some of the most able writers upon political economy
have held the opinion, that the Post-office ought not
to be regarded as a source of revenue only ; but that
any surplus which might arise should be carried for-
ward, in order to enable the authorities to increase its
facilities, and enlarge the amount of convenience
clnimed, and very properly, too, by the letter-writing
population. It has been well observed recently a writer
upon this subject, that " the Post-office admits in many
respects of material improvement," and he goes on to say
that he "has long been of opinion that this department
should not be conducted with regard to profits ;" and
"if the conveyance and distribution of letters in the
mode most convenient to the public, still leave a surplus,
so much the better ; but the first object should be the
administration of the business itself." This, doubtless,
should be so ; but more than this, it ought to be the
chief care, both of those who reign at the Treasury, and
of those who rule at St. Martin's-le-Grand, to see that
all parties are properly paid, and that every encourage-
ment is held out to them steadily to perform their duty.
Experienced officers in such an establishment are incal-
culably valuable ; nor should they be neglected, either
in the office, or in the decline of life. But this is so.
Notwithstanding all the increase of duty, and the altered
state of things since the Postmaster-Generalship of the
Duke of Richmond, the salary of the letter-carriers in
the hard-worked district department, remains the same,
and despite the loss of emoluments which then were ac-
knowledged as part of the men's income, the insufficient
pittance of nine shillings per week is all that is allowed
to a worn-out man, even after 50 years' service. So it is
with the guards. Seven shillings and sixpence per week
is all they receive as pension, after ever so long a ser-
vice, except as Mr. Trelawny once said, "in very spe-
cial cases." Increase of business in the office is of course
bringing on increased work for all parties in the service ;
the guards have received orders within the last few days
in some " special cases," of which our correspondent
has heard from others of their body, to travel some-
thing less than double distances for the same stipend,
and with the same prospects of eventual destitution
(all fees being properly abolished). Sorters will have
more hours labour for the same sum, and, though last,
not least, the contractor for the conveyance of the mail-
bags for the district post will have to furnish addi
tional horse-flesh, to employ his men more hours per
day, for which, of course, he will be expected to pay
them, and without any additional remuneration, The
public do not desire such parsimony as this. It is the
pride of an honest Englishman to give as well as to re-
ceceive a fair day's wages for a fair day's work. Let
this national example be imitated by the heads of de-
partments in the public service. There can be no ex-
cuse for its not being so. The business of the office is
increasing ; the labour, and also the responsibility of
the officers, are becoming greater daily ; the revenue is
rising. so that no excuse remains. As it is most plea-
surable to record the progress of the facilities given to
the public in this important department, so it is painful
to say one word calculated to mar that pleasure ; but
the truth must be told, however it may tingle the ears
of the advocates of " class interests," interfere with the
projects of " patronage," or with the tender feelings of
the proteges of both.

COURT OF QUEEN'S BENUH.—Feb. 9.