The Sun.
London, England, 1847-01-26 00:00:00

THE GLASS TRADE.

Mr. MUNTZ, in pursuance of notice given, moved for
a return of the amount of foreign glass annually im-
ported and exported into and from the ports of England.

SUGAR DUTIES. -
Mr. MILES said, that seeing the Right Hon. Gentle-
man the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his place, he
wished to ask a question relative to the Bill for allowing
sugar to be used in distilleries. An Hon. Gentleman the
other night had moved for a Select Committee to inquire
into the probable effect of the new Sugar Bill on the
revenue of the country. He wished to ask if the Go-
verment intended to allow that Committee? He (Mr.
Miles) had asked the Right Hon. Gentleman privately,
that morning, a question relative to the equalization of
the ram duties; he wished now to know if a Select Com-
mittee would sit upon that Bill after the second reading,
following the precedent established relative to the Bill
proposed in reference to bonded corn?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, who
was very indistinctly heard, said that he had communi-
cated with his Right Hon. Friend at the head of the Go-
vernment, and he did not think it expedient to appoint a
Committee, as it would cause unnecessary delay, although
he did not attribute any such motive to his lion. Friend.
He would undertake to lay upon the table of the House
on Thursday next a report from the Board of Excise
relative to the use of sugar, malt, and molasses.
IRISH DISTRESS.
Mr. P. SCROPE said that there was one point which
he did not quite understand in the statement of the
Noble Lord, it was relative to the system for increased
relief for the poor of Ireland. He wished to know
whether there was any security that effectual relief
should be afforded, or whether the board of guardians
would be at liberty to set the law at nought, as was
the case with the Castlebar board at the present moment,
and to refuse relief to the destitute. His question was,
whether there was a right to enforce relief in all cases
of destitution ? His second question was, whether this
law was to be accompanied with any Act for the preven-
tion of mendicancy in Ireland ?—(Hear, hear.)
Lord JOHN RUSSELL—With regard to the first
question proposed by the Hon. Gentleman, namely,
as to affording out-door relief to those who were
unable to work through age or permanent infirmity,
that was intended by the measure contemplated
by the Government. It was proposed to afford
that class relief. Another question arose as to the
enforcement of ,that relief, and he believed that
it would be necessary to introduce some clauses for that
purpose. With respect to the last question—as to the
suppression of vagrancy—it was a most important matter,
but there was no Bill at present prepared with re-
gard to it.
ADJOURNMENT OF THE HOUSE.

The HON._ MEMBER then moved, as there was no
business of importance to be transacted to-morrow, that
the House at its rising do adjourn till Thursday.—
Agreed to.
ABOLITION OF POUNDAGE ON CHELSEA
PENSIONERS.

Mr. FOX MAULE moved for leave to bring in a Bill
to abolish poundage on Chelsea pensioners. These pen-
sions had been granted for long service in the army, and
for wounds incurred in the service of the country, and
had begun to be a charge on the revenue 100 years ago.
Under the old system, a long time intervened before the
pensioner could withdraw anything in reward of his past
services, and the result was, he found at his elbow nume-
rous money-lenders ready to take advantage of
his position. Government, therefore, felt it to be
absolutely necessary to interfere and check
the abuse. After that interference the pensioner

was paid six months in advance, but a charge Of 5/. per
cent. was made on the amount. In the navy, there was
no charge made, but this was a matter not of so much im-
portance, though, nevertheless, the law was applied to
the navy. The, attention of the Government had been called
to the subject at the close of the last session, but, in conse-
quence of their having so recently come into office, they
were not able to give the subject that attention which it
would require. The Government had since taken the
subject into their consideration, and the result of their
deliberations had been to recommend to the House to
abolish the charges at once and for ever. Besides, the
unequal mode in which the charges were made, it was
also more than usually necessary to abolish those
charges when it was considered the high prices of
provisions at the present time ; and although those
pensions appeared to be of a small amount to Hon.
Members, still it was something considerable to the
pensioners themselves.—(Hear, hear.)
Captain LAYARD would belie his feelings if he did
not give expression to his satisfaction now that the Go-
vernment had taken the subject into their consideration
and resolved that the gallant and, in most cases, worn-
out warriors of this country should receive the full re-
ward of their toil, and he was glad that the promise
made to him by the Government at the latter end of the
last session had been fulfilled.
Sir DE LACY EVANS—It had been said that this
proposal was just and fair. He did not know whether
it was jest and fair, but he was quite sure that the pro-
ceedings of the fornaor Co,eiutncnta ‘raa
violation of the rights of these poor old veterans. At the
same time he was highly delighted that the Government
had now taken this matter into consideration.
Sir H. DOUGLAS also expressed his high satisfac-
tion at this movement on the part of the Government.
TEN HOURS' BILL

Mr. FIELDEN presented several petitions in favour
of this Bill, which were ordered to lie on the table.
The HoN. MEMBER then rose to move for leave to bring
in his Bill for reducing the labour in factories to ten
hours a day. The Hon. Member went on to quote a
number of authorities, medical and otherwise, in proof
of the injurious effects of the present factory system,
and the necessity of a change. We could only gather
the purport of the speech from an occasional word or
two, but the details of the Hon. Gentleman's address
wore perfectly inaudible in the gallery.
Sir GEORGE GREY said the Bill, which was at
present sought to be introduced, and of which the Hon.
Member had obligingly furnished him with a drrft,
was nearly the same as that which was intro-
duced last session by Lord Ashley, still there
were some additional causes which would deserve
the consideration of the House. The first of these re-
ferred to the case of young persons, from the ages of
' thirteen to twenty, and it was proposed to reduce their
hours of labour from 12 to 11. The second clause pro-
posed to enact a maximum of 10 hours in certain cases,
and the third was for the purpose of placing some
wholesome restriction on the labour of young persona.
It was his intention to assent to the introduction of the
Bill without discussion, which might be taken on the
principle of the Bill in an after stage. He thought it
right to guard himself against the supposition that he
coincided in the inferences which the Ilonourable
Member for Oldham drew from a document which had
been published in September last, and which was well
worthy the attention of the House. The llonourable
Member seemed to infer from that document that a
great increase of mortality had occurred in the factory
districts. He did not think that the returns of
mortality from those districts showed a greater
amount of deaths than what occurred in Liver-
pool and other large cities where few or no manu-
factories were carried on. Ho should not, however,
detain the House, as an after opportunity would be
given for discussing the question.
Mr. TRELAWNEY, while he admitted the
evil which existed, still he did not think it
right not to protest against a measure which
would militate so much against the interests
of commerce without being advantageous to any
class. If they legislate for those employed in factories,
they should also take into consideration the hundred
thousand female servants of London, who were most se-
verely used by their masters and mistresse. The Hon. Me-
mber beside him said they had not petitioned,but he (Mr.
Trelawny) considered that it was the duty of that House to
remedy a grievance whether it was petioned against or not,
He thought that the adoption of the present measure
would lead to a reduction of the rate of wages; persons
employed in factories would he thrown out of employmen t
and thereby increase the amount of competition in the
other branches of labour. In his opinion the principles of
non-interference were those which should be adopted by
the State, and the adoption of any other principle would
lead only to great harm and inextricable confusion
They were now undoing their work. They were again
raising the barriers which had been broken down. He
hadha warned the House of this last session, but his words
andd betreunstwedast
thee H
wasted. lleHouse
e should,se
would
reject however,
the oppose
measurethi s
.
least to a certainty he should divide the House upon it.
Mr. FERRAND said, that year after year the work-
ing people had come to that House to beg for protection
for their wives and children. It was said that
this should be done to prevent the strike, but
he would tell the House that the working men of
this country came to the House, and on their bended
knees begged for this protection of their wives and
daughters. And if the Hon. Member had an objection
to a strike,l working men desired to obtain this pro-
tection without a strike. He was glad to see that this
measure was at last likely to receive something like
support from the Government. At least, so he learned
from the speech of the Hon. Member for Sheffield (Mr.
Ward) delivered at that place the other day ; and
he would tall the Noble Lord at the head
of the Government, that if they did give this measure
any support, he could rally round him such a support as
11.1 himself had before received from the masses of the
people, while, if it were refused, there would be such a
spirit raised in the north of England, as it would take
much trouble to allay. He trusted the House would do
justice to the people of England, and pass the motion
of the lion Member for Oldham without a division.
Sir GEORGE STRICKLAND could not sufficiently
express the satisfaction which he felt at hearing that this
measureA was likely to receive support from Government.
for
the same time he believed that the Ten Hours Bill
11• young persons was the right measure that should be
two hours ii. day more
adopted by the Legislature. He could not possibly
e'Da''elye why any young person should work in a close
labour, the most healthy
atmosphere, against the continuous power of steam, for
than the labourer of agriculture—a
, I which human labour could
evening against the interference
a he had heard that '
subject,
of the Legislature on
Le employed. The
, were the arguments of
this most important sub'
those personr who called themselves political eoonomists.
He for one did not cry out against political economy.
by which a SOUlsoundreasreasoncoult be Gwen for what was ,
•