The Sun.
London, England, 1870-03-02 00:00:00

COMMITTAL OF A JURYMAN.

Mr. HAVILAND BURKE asked if the attention of the
Government had been drawn, in an official form or other-
wise, to the committal of the foreman of the jury for
five days by W. H. Cook, Esq., Q.C., County Court
j edge, whilst presiding in his official capacity at Norwich ;
whether the judge of that County Cotttt was justified in
ordering the Registrar to enter a verinct for the plaintiff
before the jury had determined ,tie 34 yd ict which was
eventually given for the defendant; and, whether any and
what steps should be taken by the proper authority to
prevent the recurrence of such acts.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL said he was not then in a posi-
tion to answer the question of the hon. gentleman, and
he-must get time to repeat it on another evening.
ASH WEDNESDAY,

On the motion of Mr. GLADSTONE, the house at its
ming adjourned until two o'clock to-morrow after-

noon.

EMIGRATION.

Mr. TOURENS rose to call the attention of the House to
the expediency of emigration as a means of relieving the
distressed condition of the working classes, and staying
the increase of pauperism ; and to move, That in order to
arrest the increase of pauperism, and to relieve the dis-
tressed condition of the working classes, it is expe-
dient that measures be adopted-for facilitating the
emigration of poor families to British colonies. He said
he had been induced to undertake the task in consequence
of his having lived in a country for 20 years where dis-
tress such as he had seen in this country was unknown,
and where the full benefits of emigration were
shown in the most striking degree. He felt that the best
and most effectual remedy for the widespread distress
which now existed in this country was emigration.
He was sure statistics gave but a very faint idea
of the true extent of the distress, because they did not in
the slightest degree give the least idea of those who were
struggling with poverty. The distress, he was certain,
was not temporary, but chronic, and in illustration of that
he could only point to the fact that where there was
labour for two men three were now always looking after
it. Such a state of things brought down the
rate of wages to a price that made it almost
impossible for a bachelor to exist upon them,
but when those wages had to be divided amongst the
family of a married man, there was not sufficient to get
food to give him that strength which was so necessary for
him to have to even earn the pitiful remuneration. That
circumstance drove the man to the public-house and the
use of stimulants, and he became so desperate and
depraved that his labour became dear at any price.
There was too much competition, he argued, both as re-
garded farms and labour in this country to admit of all
being employed. Emigration was objected to, that it
robbed the country of the young and the vigorous ; but
what he proposed was to assist the middle-aged, who
were burdened with large families. He understood that
the colonies refused to encourage emigration, on the ground
that certain advantages to which they were supposed
to be entitled had been withheld from them, in connec-
tion with the land. Therefore it was at home they must
look for the necessary funds to enable the thousands of
destitute poor to emigrate to other lands. Benevolence
had done a great deal, and he hoped the Government
would now come forward and do all that they could.
They might very well allow the vessels of the
navy not in commission or likely to be, to
be used for the purpose of transporting emigrants
But besides ships, the Government should also provide
funds. A judicious use of the moneys already taken
from the pockets of the taxpayers would provide ample
funds. Therefore, no additional taxation -was involved by
his suggestion. He would have 4th and sth Wm. IV, c 59,
which enabled Boards of Guardians to borrow money from
the general revenues of the country, to repay the same in
five years, amended by 25 years being substituted
for five. In conclusion, he contended that emigration was
an effectual remedy for distress—that it was an appro-
priate remedy—that it would not unduly press on
the resources of this country, or impose any extra burdens
upon the ratepayers.
Mr. EASTWICK considered this question one of greater
emergency than the Irish Land question or that of edu-
cation. There were thousands of persons in the metropolis
and other large towns of England dying from insufficient
subsistence, arising from want of work. The number of
emigrants rose from 58,000 in 1868 to 90,000 in 1869, the
latter number being larger than in any one previous year,
excepting. 1854. There were two millions of people in the
country in distress, and the number was being aug-
mented by 250,000 yearly. While the population
was increasing, the preductive capacity of the land was
decreasing. Politically and commercially, the hon. gentle-
man argued, it was the interest of this country to encou-
rage emigration to the uttermost. For the construction of
railways in Canada there will be required this next yea'
no less than4o,ooo labourers. Canada, he went on to shew,
was sufficient in itself for all our emigration wants. From
Canada the hon. gentleman passed on to Australia and the
hill districts of India, to shew the extent of the absorb
ing powers of the colonies in regard to immigration.
He Wished the Government would find some new means
of employment for the working classes, but if they did not
these discussions on emigration would go on yeai
after year. (Hear, hear.) He felt certain theft
if any sort of employment could be obtained at home,
none of those who now desired to leave the country
would wish to do so, and thousands would
prefer hard work at home rather than under-
take the hardship of seeking a precarious living
abroad. There was a gentleman who had written
much on the subject, and he thought the
opinion of Mr. John Stuart Mill was worthy of
some deference, and he looked upon emigration
as the safety-valve of the labour market. (Hear,
hear.) He thought the Government ought to take the
subject of emigration most energetically into hand, and
form a permanent department of emigration.
Mr. MONSELL said the subject that had been brought
forward was one that must interest every person.
He agreed with the hon. gentleman who had
brought the subject forward that there was
a great amount of distress ; but he could
not agree with the hon. gentleman opposite that the
want was unparalleled, because in 1863 there was a much
greatzr amount of distress. For two-and-twenty years
this subject had been allowed to sleep, because it was
just that amount of years since the subject had been
brought forward in the House. He did not go the lcng,th
that some hon. members did in their estimation of a State
system of emigration, as he looked with far more favour
on the system that might be called the voluntary system. The
hon. gentleman had not fairlymet the difficulty that arose
in carrying out a State system of emigration, and it never
seemed to have struck him to consider the state of
things that might be brought about by this country
forcing a large amount of pauper population on any of the
I colonies. He syrurrathisecl with the suffering of the poor,
, -