The Sun.
London, England, 1854-03-03 00:00:00

GREAT LONDON DRAINAGE BILL.

On the motion for the second reading of this bill,
Mr. W. WILLIAMS objected to the second reading,
as, if the hiil were carried, itiwould entirely mar the
great object of a complete system of drainage for the
metropolis. He moved that the bill be read a second
time this day six months.
Mr. WALTER thought it would be most unfair to
dispose of this important bill in the hasty and inconside-
rate manner just proposed by the hon. member, and in
such a thin house. We had the fearful prospect of the
revisit of cholera in the spring, and that rendered the
bill all the more important, in order to have a good sys-
tem of drainage, and the river purified.
Sir B. HALL said this bill was got up as a private
speculation, and though the company who had got it up
required 2,000,0001. to carry it out, they had only, he
believed, got 5001. raised as yet for that purpose
(hear)—and, therefore, he hoped the house would not
sanction this bill.
Mr. DRUMMOND said, there was an assembly
meeting in this metropolis infinitely more important in
their own estimation than the Imperial Parliament, and
that was the Marylebone Vestry—(laughter) and
though they did not issue blue-books, yet they issued
very extraordinary documents. (Hear.) The hon.
member caused a good deal of merriment by reading an
extract from a circular issued by the Marylebone Vestry,
which was couched in very inflated language. The
rate asked for this purpose was I, and yet the Maryle-
bone Vestry opposed it. (Hear.)
Lord SEYMOUR said if we could have a scheme car-
ried out by the public, for which the public paid, it
would be much more effectual than any other means,
and he should recommend the house not to send this bill
to a committee. (Hear.)
Sir J. SHELLEY said though the hon. member (Mr.
Drummond) had made a very jocose speech on the sub-
ject, it was no laughing matter to the ratepayers, who
had to pay the expense. (Hear, hear.) The fact was
this company came before the house as they did last
year, and it was sent to a select committee, who refused
to sanction it on the ground that the guarantee was not
sufficient, and the company now came forward
again in precisely the same circumstances, and
asked for a second reading. But as the noble
lord the Home Secretary had a bill ready to
bring in for the general improvement of the metropolis,
as regarded drainage, he thought this was certainly the
wrong time for the company to come forward with their
bill. (Hear, hear.)
Lord D. STUART said he believed the Vestry of
Marylebone did its duty when they endeavoured to
protect the pockets of the ratepayers from the guarantee
of such a scheme as the one now before the house.
Mr. BOUVERIE said no new ground had been shown
why this bill should be reconsidered, and he hoped the
house would reject the second reading.
Mr. A. PELLATT said 25,0001. had been deposited
by the promoters of the bill as an earnest that they in-
tended to carry out the work if Parliament sanctioned
it. It was only the north side of the Thames that op-
posed the bill, but the south side was decidedly in its
favour.
Lord PALMERSTON said last year he was favour-
able to the bill, but since the Commissioners of Sewers
was about to be reorganised he thought the question
involved in this bill ought to be left for the decision
of the new commission. All things considered, he did
not think it advisable for the house to pass the second
reading.
After some further discussion, the second reading was
negatived without a division.
PETITIONS.

Mr. W. BROWN presented a petition from a place

in Lancashire in savour of the establishment of refor-
matory scho o' is,

Several Foist itions were presented praying that public-
houses and 1 ,e er-shops may be closed on Sundays.
Mr. MA.(kAN presented a petition from a place, in
Ireland pra: ring for the repeal of the paper duty.
_ _

FACTORY LABOlire.

Mr. C013.33ETT gave notice that on Thursday, the
16th inst., 'he, should move for leave to bring in a bill to
limit the homes of labour of women and children in fac-
tories to ten : hours a-day, and to provide for the better
inspection e factories.