The Sun.
London, England, 1870-06-18 00:00:00

THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT SUPPLEMENTAL

BILL.

This bill passed through committee, and was reported.
SLIGO AND CASHEL DISFRANCHISEMENT

BILL.

The above bill passed through committee, and was
reported.
SALMON ACTS AMENDMENT BILL.

This bill also passed through committee.
The House adjourned at five minutes to seven until
nine o'clock.

WANT OF EMPLOYMENT AMONG THE
LABOURING CLASSES.

The House reassembled at nine o'clock.
On the order for going into Committee of Supply—
Mr. W. M. TORRENS drew attention to the distress
among the working classes, and moved that the continued
want of employment among those who lived by
waged labour in many of the great towns of
the kingdom, called for the special considera-
tion of the House, with a view to the best
means that might be devised for the remedy of the
same without delay. Surely, he remarked, if the people
of Ireland, because they had been disaffected, had been
so generally cared for, the classes in this country of which
he spoke deserved the attention of Government, with the
view of ameliorating their condition. Unexampled
poverty had lately prevailed in the great towns and was
likely to recur, aggravated by the natural increment of
population. The hon. gentleman described at great
length the desperate condition of the labouring classes,
especially in the metropolis. The statistics of the Poor-
Law Board, he said, only indicated one-tenth part of the
destitution which prevailed. He suggested that the des-
titute should be assisted to emigrate, but not sent out as
paupers. There was a desire among the honest artizans to
assist themselves.

Lord GEORGE HAMILTON seconded the motion, believing
that the hon. gentleman had made his case clear to the
majority of the House. He agreed with the hon.
member for Finsbury as to the unreliable character
of the Poor-Law returns. The noble lord referred
very briefly to the reduction of the estimates, involving
the discharge of men from their employment, and render-
ing them chargeable to the poor-rates. He noticed the
remedies proposed, such as the reclamation of waste lands,
the alteration of our commercial policy, and emigration,
and then condemned indiscriminate charity, as producing
more evil than anything else. It was much better to
place within a man's power the means of reaching the
colonies than letting him remain a permanent burden.
Mr. GoecHEN reviewed the speech of the member for
Finsbury, and said it would be very disastrous if the
country were led to believe that the state of things was
worse than it really was. Supposing, he asked, emigra-
tion failed to remedy the evil, was the hon. member pre-
pared to tell the working classes that Parliament was to
devise means? He went on to show that there was a great
revival of trade in all the great centres of industry. He
ed the House not agree to the proposition that th
public purse should be applied for the benefit of any par-
ticular class.

After some further discussion, the debate was ad-
journed.

CLERICAL DISABILITIES BILL.
On the motion for going into committee on this bill,
Mr. CROSS moved the adjournment of the debate, on
the ground that it was too late to consider the measure.

On a division the motion for the adjournment was
lost.

Mr. BERESFORD-HOPE moved that the bill be referred
to a select committee.

Mr. A. E. GUEST moved that the debate be adjourned.
The House divided on the question, and the motion was
rejected.

Mr. PELL, at ten minutes to two, moved the adjourn•
ment of the House.

Mr. COLLINS seconded the motion.
Another division took place, and the motion was lost.
Mr. RAIKES then moved and Mr. COLLINS seconded the
adjournment of the debate.

The House divided at 25 minutes past two, and the
motion was lost.

Mr. HODGSON moved the adjournment of the House.
Another division took place, with a like result.
Propositions of a similar character were repeatedly
made, and it was half-past three when the House divided,
on the motion of the member for the University of Cam-
bridge. The motion was lost, and the House went into
committee pro format.
The House adjourned at a quarter to four.