The Sun.
London, England, 1860-08-08 00:00:00

NAVAL DISCIPLINE BILL.

On the order of the day for the third reading of this bill,
The Earl of HARDWICKE said this bill was intended
no doubt to ameliorate the condition of seamen. Imprison-

ment was substituted for corporal punishment. Punish

ment was not to be inflicted without inquiry by officers ap

pointed by the captain. This would make a great change
in the discipline of the navy. The first thing the Admi-
ralty would have to do would be to regulate the mode of
procedure of these new courts. Evidence would have to be
taken before the court, and the captain was to know nothing
of it till it was reported to him, and he was then to have
the power to award such punishment as he thought fit.
The whole of the government of the ship would be in that
tribunal, and he did not approve of that alteration, 'The
power of the captain would be much impaired. He thought
also that in small ships, such as gunboats, they would have
great difficulty in setting up such a tribunal as this bill
contemplated. There were some clauses of the bill which
were very valuable, and especially one which rendered sea-
men amenable to punishment for misconduct on shore, just
the same as if they were on board ship. Upon the whole
he thought the bill might be of some advantage.
The Duke of SOMERSET said the great principle of the
bill was that offenders were to be tried by a court of offi-
cers, and power was given to the Admiralty to do that
which they had continually done. They had modified the
decisions of courts martial, when appeals had been made,
and that power was now given to them more directly. He
believed this bill would effect a great improvement in naval
discipline, and that this improvement would induce seamen
in the merchant service, who were now kept back by the
fear of corporal punishment, to join the navy. By this bill
no man would be punished till after full inquiry before a
court-martial, and after full opportunity had been given
for arriving at a calm judgment.

The bill was then read a third time.
The Senior Member of Council (India) Bill was read a
third time.
The Admiralty Jurisdiction Bill was read a third time.
The Weights and Measures (Ireland) Bill was read a
third time.
The Superannuation Act (1859) Amendment Bill was
read a third time.

Earl GRANVILLE moved the resolution of urgency
for the second reading of the Census of Scotland Bill, which

was agreed to, as also was that of the Corrupt Practices al
Elections Act (1854) Continuance Bill.

BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE.

The Earl of DERBY wished to ask the noble earl the
President of the Council whether he intended to proceed
with the two bills which now stood for a second reading, the
Ecclesiastical Commission Bill and the Poor Relief (Ire-
land) Bill ; and he also wished the noble earl to state which
of the remaining bills now in progress, or awaiting their
second reading, were those which her Majesty's Govern-
ment considered to be of such importance or necessity that
they would move the resolution of urgency for their being
read a second time. With regard to the Ecclesiastical Com-
mission Bill, he would not express any opinion as to the de-
sirableness of sanctioning that bill, since the clauses to which