The Sun.
London, England, 1847-03-10 00:00:00

DRAINAGE OF LAND BILL.

On the order of the day-being read for going into com-
mittee on the Drainage of Land Bill,
Mr WILLIAMS objected to the rate of interest at which
the loans were to be advanced under this Act. He consi-
dered that a higher rate of interest ought to be charged on
the money to be lent under this Bill, as otherwise the Go-
vernment would sustain loss on the advances they made.
If they did not do so, they would have to advance the in-
terest on Exchequer-bills.
Sir G. GREY said that the Hon. Member was rather late
in making his objection.
Mr. H. BAILLIE thought that the faith of Parliament
was pledges to the Bill last session, and they could not now
withdraw from the terms then agreed to.
Mr. HUME thought that his Hon. Friend (Mr. Wil-
liams) was misunderstood. All be wanted was that the
finances of the country should sustain no loss by the ad-
vance. This Bill raised the question of advancing the in-
terest on Exchequer-bills, and he wished to know from the
Chancellor of the Exchequer or the Home Secretary, whe-
ther, in case they themselves should have to pay more
interest than they did at present, they would have ary ob-
jection to permit a clause to be introduced into the Bill for
the purpose of charging that increased rate on the advances
to be made.

Sir GEORGE GREY said that it was not intended that
any alteration should be made in the rate of interest, as they
had engaged last session to make the grants on the terms
specified in the Bill, and thetefore he should not assent to
the introduction of such a clause as that mentioned.

After a few words from Mr. Aglionby, Sir Andrew Leith
Hay, Mr. Finch, and Lord Duncan, the House went into
Committee.

On clause 1 being proposed,
Mr. WILLIAMS said her Majesty's Government wer
called upon to protect the public from any loss by the ad-
vancement of money. Rome clause ought to tie intro-
duced giving the security.
Mr. FINCH did not consider there was any weight in
wouldLo rLord
preventL IN c pne
said
o tnh fart!
tmh
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the suggestion of the Hon. Member, as if it were adopted it
ofOLV
lL
this mea-
sure was not by any means bent finial to the Highlands or
Lowlands of Scotland. He considered that the principle of
the measure should be confined to that of the general Act
of last session, which the late Government introduced,
and that was confining the loans to the purposes of chaining
alone. Every Hon. Member who was conversant with agri-
culture would bear him out in saying that thorough drainage
was the most beneficial improvement which could be made
on an estate. He desired to know whether the Govern-
ment had made up their minds to carry out the Bill
as soon as possible? If they had not, he would give notice of
his intention of introducing a Bill very similar to that he in-
troduced last year.
Sir GEORGE GREY said, that in many parts of Scotland
the fencing and trenching, by which it was so necessary to
make drainage available, would be of so expensive a character
as to preclude a great number of persons from obtaining any
benefit under the Bill. Such would be peculiarly the case
with regard to those districts where distress existed, and
thus the Act would be a dead letter. The Government were
perfectly sensible of the importance of the subject, and they
would give it their serious attention. They would introduce
a Bill upon the subject. They would be most happy to give
him their warmest assistance.

Lord DUNCAN most entirely concurred in the sentiments
expressed by the Noble Lord opposite (Lord Lincoln). It
would be most proper to give a priority to the proprie-
tors of the Highlands over those of the Lowlands. This was
not a small grant of public money, it was one of 2,000,000/.
to Great Britain and 1,500,0001. to Ireland. The High.
land proprietors deserved this precedence ; they had
made great exertions to meet the distress, and that
too without any grant from Parliament. There was,
however, another and a stronger reason in favour of
his supposition. At present in the Lowlands, with which
he was connected, wages had risen fifty per cent. By
the introduction a this money these wages would be most
unnaturally increased in their amount, and in a very short
time the labourers would be thrown out of employment in
consequence of the influx of inhabitants from other parts of
the country, who would flock thither in search of work.
.. Lord MORPETH said, that with respect to the remark of
bis Noble Friend opposite, that the Highlands were entitled
to particular consideration under this Bill, he would see by
looking at the Bill that the Scotch generally were the flr,t
thought of by the Government, and particularly the High-
lands. It would be found that of this two millions two-
thirds would go to Scotland, or perhaps more than
that sum. Very few applications had as yet been made from