The Sun.
London, England, 1848-07-18 00:00:00

NEW HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT.

In reply to a question from Mr. EWART,
Mr. GREENE stated that the ground-floor of the
New House, allowing twenty-one inches for each Mem%
ber, is calculated to contain 318 Members.—(Laughter.)
The gallery was calculated to contain 130 Members,
making a total of 448 Members to be accommodated in
the New House. The present House only contained
380 Members, and therefore the New. House would
afford much larger accommodation.
CONSOLIDATED FUND.
The Consolidated Fund (3,000,000) Bill went through
Committee.

The House resumed, and the report was ordered to
be brought up to-morrow.

- HIGHWAYS BILL.
On the proposition for going into Committee on this
Bill,

Sir H. WILLOUGHBY recorded his dissent against
it, on the ground that it was inexpedient at present to
levy any fresh burdens upon the agricultural districts ;
he contending that the Bill would have such a tendency.
Mr. G. HEATHCOTE trusted that the Bill would be
postponed fur the present.
Mr. CHRISTOPHER was in favour of the Bill, con-
sidering that by consolidating the management of those
highways which were now under separate control, the
expenditure of management would be diminished, and
men of greater skill would be employed in keeping them
in repair.

Alter a few words from Lord GALWAY and Mr.
Rocs,

Sir GEORGE GREY said he considered that the
Bill would have the effect of securing much better high-
ways. It had been well considered by the Select Com-
mittee, and he trusted that the House would go into
Committee upon it at once.
Mr. HENLEY stated a number of objections which
he had to the details of the Bill, and hoped that it would
be postponed, until next session. The country ought
to have time to consider the burdens that the Bill would
place upon them. He was one of those who considered
that shifting burdens was a most injudicious course.
In many of the local parishes the overseers
were merely rate-collectors.—(Hear, hear.) Calls were
made upon them in a very irregular manner,
and the result was, that in order to meet the continual
and sudden calls made .upOn them the poor devils—
(Laughter) —were obliged to inflict all kinds of rates
upon the ratepayers. Country people had not so much
money as many seemed disposed to believe--they had
no Scotch banking system to take advantage of--
(Hear, hear)—and therefore it was most unfair to throw
an undue weight upon them. He advised the Hon.
Boronet to postpone the Bill until the next session, in
order that it might receive the consideration of the
country. He concluded by proposing that the Bill go
into Committee this day six months.
Sir G. GREY could not undertake to give an explana-
tion with respect to particular clauses which were not
before the House, inasmuch as the course was an un•
usual one.

Mr. R. PALMER was in favour of postponing the
Bill until the ensuing Session, in an early period of
which it might be brought forward. It would be im-
possible, he thought, to get through the 13111 during the
presentthe
amendment Session.
if the For House tohessee
dividedrea reasons p
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Sir W. HEATIICOTE was adverse to discussing
Bills of tnis kind in this stage.—(Hear, hear.) The
discussion could much better take place in Committee.
If, however, after it had passed through Committee it
was not much improved, he should feel inclined
to support the amendment, in order that it might be
postponed until the ensuing session.—(Hear.) The
machinery would be most difficult of compilation, and
this alone, at this late period of the session, was an ad-
ditional reason why time should be given fur the careful
consideration of this measure. Ho wished to see
bridges, which formed an important part in the expendi-
ture of the different counties, brought under a clearly-
defined system of management, as at present county
magistrates were much embarrassed by the intricate
questions that came before them in relation to this
matter. He wished to see bridges and private and public
roads placed under a clearly-defined system of manage-
ment.

Mr. HODGES supported the withdrawal of the Bill.
Mr. DRUM NIOND said this was the second Bill this
session that provided for the mortgage of rates; it ought
to establish the principle, not unlike that of a man
getting into debt and leaving his children to pay. He
felt it his duty therefore to support the postponement of
the second reading of the Bill.
Mr. CORNWALL LEWIS said the Bill was one of
an important character; one much required by the country,
and, therefore, he thought it should be passed into a law
during the present session. He combatted the objection to
the principle of centralization, inasmuch as the general
boards would be composed of members of local boards.
Those who had carefully examined the Bill could not be
of opinion that its machinery would be expensive. The
Committee from whom the Bill emanated did not enter-
tain such an opinion. The rates in England and
Wales amounted to 1,600,000/. in the course of a
year. There was a number of officers who re-
ceived no salaries and who were, as a matter
of course, nearly irresponsible. He thought there
was a certain number of essential officers receiving small
salaries, that much good would accrue, and that the
present expense of management would be thereby con-
siderably reduced. An inspector appointed by the
county magistrate at a moderate salary would be found
a useful and by no means an expensive officer. He
could not, therefore, see that the machinery would be
expensive. When they came to discuss the clauses he
should be prepared to give the fullest information with
respect to them.—(Divide.)
Mr. NEWDEGATE said he sent copies of the Bill
into Warwickshire, and a committee of the rate-payers
was appointed to consider it, and the result was that
1,024 of the rate-payers dissented from its principles,
and be agreed with them. The present Bill differed
little from its predecessor. As the Bill would inter-
fere with great local interests, and as its principles had
not been sufficiently matured, he thought the Government
would do well to postpone it. The Bill was only deli-
vered yesterday in its new form ; the Members expected
last night to hear the Bills that would be proceeded with,
and that that would bo suspended. The House sat until
an early hour this morning, and it was therefore impos-
sible that Members could be acquainted with its prin-
ciples. He refused, therefore, so far as he was
concerned,r to proceed with it in the present session.
The Right Hon. Baronet said, that those who, like
him, acted thus, did so with a view to promote the inte-
rests of their constituents, and it was therefore too much
to press upon them at this late period of the session a
Bill whose principles were not comprehensive, and there-
fore most objectionable to the rate-paying community.
(LEFT SPEAKING.)

BIRMINGHAM AND OXFORD JUNCTION RAILWAY.
--(This DAY.)—The adjourned meeting of the Bir-
mingham and Oxford Junction proprietors was held this
morning at the King's Arms Hotel, Palace-yard; Mr.
P. Muntz, chairman of the board of directors, in the
chair. The meeting was further adjourned, on the mo-
tion of the chairm an, till to-morrow.