The Sun.
London, England, 1860-07-24 00:00:00

WORCESTER RACES.—(This Day.)

[WY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.
CRAVEN STAKES.

Crater
Gaspard
Bel Esperanza,

LATEST BETTING.
STEWARD'S CUP.

100 to 15 agst Maggiore (taken)
100 to 8 agst Rover (taken)
100 to 7 agst Montebello (taken)
100 to 6 agst Enfield (taken)
20 to 1 agst Seclusion (taken)

IMPERIAL PA fi LIAMENT.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—(Tins DAY.)
The SPEAKER took the chair at 20 minutes after 12
o'clock.

PRIVATE BUSINESS.

The Lords' amendments to the following bills were con-
sidered and agreed to :—Hay Railway, Horsham and
Guildford Direct Railway, and Macclesfield Gas Bills.

POOR LAW BOARD CONTINUANCE BILL.
The house went into committee on this bill.

On clause 1,
Mr. BAILEY moved an amendment to the effect that
this bill should be continued for only 12 months. He said
that, in bringing forward this motion, he did not for a mo-
ment impugn the efficiency of the heads of the Poor Law
Board, nor their immediate predecessors, for both had done
much to administer the powers entrusted to them in a

•
manner that divested them of much that was disagreeable.
The act was peculiarly objectionable from its interfering
with the privileges of the House of Commons, which had
delegated the power, not only of levying rates, but
of nominating officers. But there was one power
more objectionable than another possessed by the
Poor Law Board, namely, the power to make regu-
lations which had the effect of law throughout
the kingdom. He complained also of the mode in which
the money collected for the poor was dealt with by the
guardians, who too frequently consulted their interests in-
stead of those which were entrusted to them. The manner
in which relief was administered was in some cases very de-
fective, particularly in regard to the Irish who were cruelly ex-
pelled from the country where they expended their strength
and energies. He repeated that there were constitutional
objections to the bill, and he thought it would be most de-
sirable to consider the matter carefully, in order that next
year they might be in a position to legislate in a satisfac-
tory manner on this important subject.
Mr. S. ESTCOURT said that he agreed in some of
the remarks of the hon. member (Mr. Bazley), but he
objected to the limitation which he proposed. He did not
think it necessary to restrict the continuance of this bill to
one year in order to remedy the evils which were admitted,
for though its continuance were extended to five years the
Government could institute inquiries into the operation of
the system and bring forward measures for its improvement.
In any attempt to ameliorate the existing system, the
house would not only be willing but eager to legislate on
the matter. He thought that inquiries should be made

with regard to the different workhouses in the kingdom,
in order to ascertain if improvements could not be intro-
duced, and also whether a central board could be dispensed
with, to thebenefit of the administration of the Poor Law.
If the committee, to whom this inquiry was confided, were
of opinion that the board should be abolished, or that any
other alterations should be introduced, or made any report,
the house would then be in a position to legislate, but
he considered no advantage would result from
the adoption of the motion of the honourable

member (kr. Bazley). He hoped that the right hon. mem-
ber (Sir E. Lewis) would accept the continuance of this bill
for five years, with the understanding that he would intr•-
duce a measure on the subject next session, or that, at all
events, the Government would not offer any impediment to
any other hon. member who might be desirous of bringing
in a measure with a view to the improvement of the exist-
ing system. He concluded by supporting the clause.
Mr. PIGOTT agreed with the last speaker, that thebest
mode of dealing with the question would be the appoint-
ment of a committee of inquiry.
Mr. DEEDES considered that the continuance of the
bill only for the year would not be desirable, but at the
same time he thought five years was too long a period for
such continuance, as the latter might have the effect of
shelving any satisfactory settlement of the question for
some years. He suggested as a middle course that the bill
should be continued for three years.

Lord FERMOY said that unless the right hon. gentle-
man (Sir G. Lewis) gave a distinct pledge that there should
be a committee of inquiry next session he should support
the amendment. There was dissatisfaction with the work-
ing of the system, which was ascribed to the Central Board,
and it was necessay that there should be an enquiry.
Mr. B. OSBORNE said that there was already sufficient
information on this subject without the inquiry in question
being instituted. He alluded to the elaborate report as to
the working of the Board from 1854, and there was an ad-
mirable synopsis on this subject recently published, which
gave a full account of the working of the system since the
Poor Law Board was established. He denied that the
central board had given general dissatisfaction, for out of
640 Unions under 100 had petitioned against this board, of
which 40 were merely directed to modifications. These
petitions were chiefly got up in London, and were
of a sectarian character, arising from the admission
of Roman Catholic chaplains into workhouses. The
Poor Law Board had given security to the landed pro-
perty of this country by its admirable administration, against
the heads of which, no matter what party had been in
power, no complaint had been preferred. (Hear, hear.)
It had also effected a saving in the expenditure during the
last twenty years of £30,000,000, besides an additional sav-
ing in regard to litigation of no less than £150,000 a-year.
Mr. DUNCOMBE denied that there was any sectarian
feeling involved in the presentation of the petition against
the continuance of this bill beyond one year, in illustration
of which he referred to some of the large families in Fins-
bury who had presented such petitions. He considered
that inquiry was necessary and should not be delayed.
Mr. DEEDES defended and eulogised the Poor Law
Board, and opposed the amendment.
Mr. ADDERLY supported the clause but advocated an
inquiry.
Sir W. MILES said he thought the time had arrived
when their should be a full and fairinquiry into the opera-
tion of the poor-law and the board. If that were conceded
to he thought it would satisfy all parties.
[LEFT SPEAKING.]

THIS DAY'S MARKETS.

HAY MARKETS.

SMITHFIELD.-IVloadow hay, £3 Os to £5 Os Od ; new
do., £2 lOs to £4 Os; old cloyur, £4 Os to £6 Os Od ; new
do., £3 lOs to £4 18s ; and straw, £1 15s to £2 54 per load.
Trade dull.

CUMBERLAND.--Old Meadow hay, £3 to £5 2s 6d;
new do., £2 15s to £4 Os; old clover, £4 Os to £6 Os Od ;
new do., £3 lOs to £4 18s; and straw, £1 166 to £2 5s per
load. A slow demand.

WHITECHAPEL.—OId meadow hay, £3 Os to £5 Os Od;
new do., £2 lOs to £4 Os ; old cloven, £4 Os to £6 Os Od ;
new do., £3 10s to £4 13s ; and straw, £1 14s to £2 2s per
load. Trade dull.