The Sun.
London, England, 1870-06-21 00:00:00

ERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS.-MONDAY.

The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack
at five o'clock.
PROTECTION OF THE COLONIES.

Earl RUSSELL rose to move that an address be pre-
sented to her Majesty stating that the House had seen
with great satisfaction the spontaneous evpressions of
loyalty which have lately emanated from many of the
colonies, and the House prayed her Majesty to., appoint
a commission to inquire into the means best
fitted to guarantee the security of her dominions.
The noble lord based his motion on two grounds, the great
change which had been made since 1853 in the mode of

carrying on war ; and, secondly, the great disturbance
which had recently taken place in the public mind with
respect to the colonial policy of the Government. The
noble earl expressed his satisfaction at the granting
of a loan to New Zealand, but he expressed his
regret that it was the intention to give up the garrison of
Quebec, and observed he could not but look upon such a
proceeding as a very unsafe one. It might be urged that
the British troops could be sent there in the event of war
breaking out, but if the calamity should take place in the
winter time, great difficulty might be experienced in getting
up the St. Lawrence. He did not in the slightest
degree wish to underrate the gallantry and
bravery of the Canada militia, but he thought the British
garrison at Quebec ought to be maintained. He had
brought the subject under the consideration of the House
in order that the Government might indicate their policy, in
order that they might declare that in any case where it
Was necessary they would protect the colonists, and to af-
ford them an opportunity of saying what those means of
protection were.

Lord NOTRHBROOK said the Government were fully
alive to the importance of strongly maintaining the bonds
by which the colonies were bound to Great Britain. The
Principle of colonial military defence originally laid
down was that we were bound to defend our possessions
in return for a monopoly of their commerce ; but of late
it had been admitted that as circumstances had undergone
a change it was now the duty of the colonists to
provide for themselves. They had introduced re-
sponsible government, and it would be exceedingly
difficult, if not impossible, to maintain troops in
tone of peace. It was almost generally admitted
that although it was the duty of the Government of Great
Britain to defend the colonies in time of war, still in a time
of peace she was not called upon to provide an armed force
for their protecton. As far as regarded Canada, since the
confederation of the North American provinces, there was
every reason that the dominion would eventually become
a Powerful nation, and that it would be quite able to pro-
vide for its own defence. The British Government had,
however, granted her a loan for a railroad, which was
nearly completed, they had nearly completed the works
for the defence of Quebec, and had further undertaken
the erection of the fortifications as recommended by
Colonel Jarvis. The military force at present in Canada
was five battalions of infantry and five batteries of
artillery, and it was intended to reduce that force in the
course of the financial year, and to withdraw so much of
a as to leave only one battalion of infantry and one
battery of artillery. In the future reliance would have
to be placed upon the militia, 40,000 of whom were re-
quired to be always maintained in a state of efficiency,
and upon the naval supremacy of the seas. The troops
Would be kept concentrated at home to meet any emer-
gency that might arise, and that, in hishumble judgment,
Was the wisest course to pursue. With respect to the motion
of the noblt, earl, he hoped it would not be pressed, be-
cause if granted its operation would be too gigantic to lead
to any good result. It appeared to him it would also
trench on the responsibility of the Government, which he
thought highly objectionable, and upon these grounds he
hoped the noble earl wouli withdraw his motion.
Earl GREY said it was most desirable that a close con-
nection between the colonies and the mother country
should be maintained. He condemned the policy pur-
sued as regarded the Cape, and said if it was
Persevered in it would lead to another Kaffir
War. He thought it would be highly desirable
to maintain a garrison at the Cape, as it would
be the means of giving great security, and could be
done at very little cost. He hoped the Government would
carefully consider the present position of the colonies
generally, and also that the noble earl would not press his
Motion.

Earl GRANVILLE, in defending the policy of the Govern-
Izeut, expressed his admiration at the gallant manner in
which the Fenians—a contemptible body of filibusters—
Were routed by the Conadian militia. He thought that
the great source of confidence of the colonists was the per-
fect state of defence of the mother country and the efficiency
of the navy. Such a source of reliance he felt would give a
greater feeling of security than having small bodies of
troops dotted all over the world. He might observe that
°lir colonial possessions were attacked, it would be
our duty to defend them. He hoped the noble lord would
tot press his motion.
The motion was, after a few words from Earl Russell,
withdrawn.

The Union of Benefices Bill was read a third time, and
Passed.

Their lordships adjourned at eight o'clock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—MONDAY.
Ile Speaker took the chair at five minutes to four
o'clock.

ROYAL COMMISSION.
The Royal assent was given by commission to the
„
~%°llewing bills :—County Courts Buildings, War Office,
"or Relief (Metropolis), Railway Powers and Construc-
tion, Inverness County, &c., Boundary, and Oyster and
Mussel Fisheries (Supplemental, No. 2), and also to fifty-
f°lll* Private bills.
TELEGRAPH COMMUNICATION WITH
IRELAND.
Mr. Pim gave notice that on going into committee of
41.Pply he should call attention to the unsatisfactory state
of telegraphic communication between England and Ire-
land, more especially between London and Dublin.
PARTY PROCESSIONS (IRELAND) BILL.
Mr, W. JOHNSTON gave notice that on the motion for
the second reading of this bill he should propose that it
°e read a second time that day six months.

LOCAL TAXATION.
rn_Sir MASSEY LOPES asked the First Lord of the
reasury, when he proposed to introduce the general and
ecnZprehensive measure dealing with the whole subject of
local taxation, which he promised the early part of last
session.

GOSCHEN said in the absence of the Frst Lord of
the Treasury he would state that he did not think a posi-
tive promise had been given to introduce such a bill. A
e°4lmittee was sitting on the subject, and as the report had
not yet been presented, he did not think it would be pos-
sible to bring in a bill during the present session.
THE KENSINGTON ROAD.
HENRY HOARE asked the First Commissioner of
Corks, Whether it was true that plans showing the devia-
r of the Kensington Road into Hyde Park were issued
40
ko
ba the Office of Works to a limited number of persons
t b
-Sing Members of this House, five or six weeks since ;
•,.
thy, if so, whether, when copies of plans were promised
House, it would not have been practicable within
tO days from the promise to serve printed copies of
he Plans upon every member ; and whether any agree-
.he iltb existed between the owners of property adjacent to
Z• Albert Hall of Arts and the Exhibition and Ken-
h64°ll. roads on the one side, and the committee of the
I,Bs"ett Hall or the commissioners of the Exhibition of
cna the other side, on the subject of the land proposed
given them by the Kensington Road Improvement

tiol% 4YRToN entered into a somewhat lengthy expla,na-
ceo 11 the subject, but said it was not intended to pro-
,L With the bill that evening.
TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION WITH

IRELAND.
of jBI'AoPooLE asked the Postmaster General what
i he Proposed to take towards securing for the people
expedia " cheaper, more widely extended, and more
Thetious system of telegraphy."
said
Marquis of HARTINGTON said it could hardly be
the steps had not been taken to cheapen rates between
oree
f ecattry and Ireland, as the shilling rate was now in
no
3i"he result ofwhich had beento multiply the business
1%8 than four times. If delay some times arose
444 list be attributed to the excessive number of. messages,
Wel
the difficulties occasioned by the breakiug of the
taken t°
and the Haverfordwest cable. Steps were being
eolitt' to remedy existing defects and the circumstances
heiZted with the laying of an additional cable were al so
with
the
kr Air FOREIGN POSTAGE.
*heti; —4-°NTAGUE GUEST asked the Postmaster-General
eert,. er hie attention had been called to the fact that a
144,:1a coal company, carrying on their business in Eng-
eon"
iPosted their trade circulars from Belgium, to save
11. postage; and also, whether, in his judgment, her
prevent
The
Government could introduce some measure to
:it the recurrence of the practice.
Marquis of HARTINGTON said his attention had