The Sun.
London, England, 1860-04-03 00:00:00

BENEFIT SOCIETIES,

Lord STANLEY of Alderley presented a petition from
the Odd Fellows' Society, complaining of a clause in the
Benefit Societies Act which provided that the society might
be wound up by an actuary, on a requisition signed by eight
members.

DWELLINGS OF THE LABOURING CLASSES
(IRELAND).
This bill was read a third time and passed.
ALTERATION OF THE PRAYER-BOOK.
Lord EBURY gave notice that on an early day he should
move a resolution concerning the alteration of the Prayer-
book.

THE NEW REFORM BILL.
The Marquis of CLANRICARDE moved for certain
returns relating to the representation of the people in Par-
liament. He took this opportunity of expressing his
strong objection to the Government Reform Bill, which
he characterised as one of the most absurd that had ever been
introduced into Parliament. He considered the bill a
mockery, and if it ever reached the house, which he hoped
it would never do, he for one should give it his strongest
opposition. As far as he knew there was no wish for
reform in Ireland, in which country there had been no
wish publicly expressed for any such object. He did not
go the length of saying there was no need of reform in Ire-
land, but by the plan at present proposed by Government
the inequalities of representation would still remain.
The noble earl concluded by moving for a return of all
towns in Ireland, exclusive of Parliamentary boroughs,
containing a population of 4,000, or upwards, specifying
the counties in which such towns were situated,snd showing
the number of occupiers rated at above £4 and fader £6,
and at £6 and upwards, but under £8 and at £B.
The Duke of NEWCASTLE trusted that the noble
marquis would be disappointed in the wish that the new
Irish Reform Bill would not reach their lordships' house.
In the absence of all statistical information he could not
discuss its merits, but he would safely state that the bill
VMS not one of such magnitude as would " take a man's
breath away." There would, of course, be no objection to
the production of the returns moved for.
Lord MONTEAGLE thought that the clause in the bill
with respect to the election of Irish peers for Irish consti-
tuencies was most absurd.

After a few words from the Marquis of CLANRI-
CARDE, the returns were ordered.

THE SITE OF OLD SMITHFIELD MARKET.

Lord EBURY rose to inquire whether it was the inten-
tion of her Majesty's Government to allow any part of the
site of old Smithfield Market to be appropriated for building
purposes?
The Duke of NEWCASTLE said that no doubt the noble
lord was aware, though he had not mentioned it, that the Cor-
poration of London had a bill before the House of Commons,
by which they proposed to appropriate this space for a dead
meat market. A communication had been going On between
the Corporation and his noble friend the Secretary for Fo-
reign Affairs and his right hon. friend at the head of the
Home-office. The question had not yet been decided. No
answer had been given which could in any way compromise
the Government, and the assent of the Crown, which had not
been given, would be necessary before the bill could pass
the other House of Parliament. Ile did not know at what
stage the bill stood at that moment, but he believed that
some arrangement must shortly be come to, in order that it
might make progress.
THE STAMP DUTIES BILL.

The Duke of NEWCASTLE, in moving the second
reading of this bill, and that the Standing Orders Nos. 37
and 38 should be considered, in order to their being dis-
pensed with, said, if he rightly understood what on a
former occasion was the wish of the house, it was that the
house should not now enter upon any discussion of this bill
or the Income Tax Bill, but that the discussion should take
place after the Easter recess, when the whole financial
scheme of the Government could be debated. If that
was the feeling of noble lords, he should be acting more in
conformity with it by abstaining at this time from going
through the clauses of the bill. He would thereby merely
state, in explanation, that this bill generally proposed to
carry out the principle of charging certain articles with a
penny and other small stamp duties, and it was found that,
though the sums were small, they brought in a considerable
revenue to the Exchequer. The principle was first adopted
in respect of the Post-office, and then extended to receipt
stamps. It was afterwards carried another step by the
right hon. gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer of
the late :Government, who proposed to charge bankers'
cheques with a small stamp duty. The bill before their lord-
ships proposed to impose stamps from ld. to 6d. upon those
tides and matters which would be found in the schedule.
He understood that some objections would be raised to the
bill on the ground that it would interfere with the operation
of trade. He thought, however, that when the financial
scheme of the Government should be carried into effect it
would be found that it would greatly relieve the trade of the
country from unnecessary restraints, and that would be
done to a great extent by this system of small stamps.
The bill was then read a second time.

The LORD SPEAKER (Lord Redesdale) then moved
that the standing orders should be considered and dispensed
with, and the motion having been agreed to, the bill passed
through committee, and was read a third time and passed.

THE INCOME TAX BILL.
The Duke of NE WCASTLE moved the second reading of
this bill. The noble lord said it would be only taking up
the time of their lordships if he entered at this time into
any discussion on the two points of the bill—viz., the addi-
tional ld. which had been imposed, and the passing of it
for one year only, as he understood his noble friend near
him (Lord Monteagle) intended after Easter to raise a full
discussion on the general financial scheme of the Govern-
ment.

The bill was then read a second time.
The LORD SPEAKER (Lord Redesdale) then moved
that the standing orders Nos. 37 and 33 should be consi-
dered and dispensed with, and the motion having been
agreed to, the bill passed through committee, and was read
a third time and passed without further comment, and (as
in the case of the Stamp Duties Bill) without the noble
lord leaving the woolsack.
Their lordships then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—(YESTERDAY.)
The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock.
NEW MEMBERS.

Sir W. Russell and Mr. Warner took the oaths and their
seats for the borough of Sorwich, and the O'Connor Don
for the county Roscommon.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.

The following bills were read a third time and passed :
Land Loan and Improvement Company, Lincoln Heath and
Market Deeping Roads, Mid Wales Railway, Stockton and
Darlington Railway, Stourbridg-e Railway, Tenbury and
Bewdley Railway, and Inverness and Aberdeen Junction
Railway.
The following bills were considered and ordered for third
reading :—South Devon Railway, Tewkesbury, Upton-
upon-Severn, and Malvern Junction Railway, West Dorset
Railway, and Widnes:Gas and Water.
The following bills were read a second time :—Auchter-
arder Common Muir; Belfast and Ballymena Railway;
Brompton, Chatham, Gillingham, &c., Water ; Carrick-
fergus and Larne Railway ; Edinburgh Railway Station
Access ; Gas (Metropolis) ; Great Northern and Western
of Ireland Railway; Inverness and Ross-shire Railway ;
and Maidstone Water.
MARRIAGE WITH A DECEASED WIFE'S
SISTER.
A very large number of petitions were presented in favour
of legalising marriage with a deceased, wife's sister.