The Sun.
London, England, 1856-04-30 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.--(This Day.

The SPEAKER took the chair at twelve o'clock. -
The Leeds Improvement Acts Amendment Bill was
read a third time.

Several petitions were presented in favour of and
against the abolition of Church rates, and also the Jus-
tices of Peace Qualification Bill.

Mr. COWAN presented a petition signed by 122
ladies of Klinhurgh, married and single, which stated
that on entering into the marriage state as the law at
present stood they passed " from freedom into slavery,"
and they prayed that some alteration might take place
in the present law, so that their own earnings might be
protected and secured to them.

THE ADJOURNMENT OF THE HOUSE.
Mr. HAYTER moved that the house at its rising do
adjourn till 2 o'clock to-morrow.
_ _

The SPEAKER, in answer to questions from hon.
members, explained that the house adjourned each day
till half-past 10 o'clock the following day, and was sup-
posed to sit there, which enabled committees to sit when
the house was up. The object of the motion was to
prevent committees sitting to-marrow (Ascension-day)
before two o'c!ock.

Subsequently the motion was withdrawn, and the
motion of Mr. FITZROY, that no committee sit to•mor•
row, was carried.

The house will therefore meet tomorrow at the usual
hour.

- .
NEW WRIT. .
On the motion of Mr. HAYTER; I% new writ was
ordered for the county of Longford, in the room of Igr.
R. M. Fox, deceased.

DWELLINGS FOR LABOURING CLASSES
(IRELAND) BILL.

On the motion for going into committee on this bill,
Mr. BRADY opposed it on the ground that the prin
ciple of the bill had not been discussed, and he moved
that it be committed that day six months.
Mr. KENNEDY secnnebt.d the motion.
Sir %V. SOMERVILLE, who introduced the bill,
supported the motion for gOing into committee; and ,:n
doing so, he oaid that the present dwellings of the Irish
poor were a disgrace'to a ciOilised nation. (Hear hear.)
He was at a loss- to understind why he had met with so
much oppcsition to this bill from Irish members. He
bad introduced it with a .ievir of improving the dwel.:
lings •f the Irish poor, which had been described by a
traveller as being in Many instances worse than the
wigwams of Indians. (Hear, hear.)
Lord BERNARD was in favour of the house
going into committee on the bill, which had been intro-
duced to remedy an acknowledged evil at present exiating
in Ireland. The architect of the Dublin Exhibition had
stated that one-tenth of the houses in Cork were unfit
for habitation.

Sir D. NORREYS said that the bill was not open to
the charge of being an exceptionable measure, because
there was a similar one in force in England. This bill
was calculated to give great benefit to Ireland.
After some further discussion, in which Mr. John
O'Connell, Mr. Napier, Mr. Macguive, Mr. Wilkinson,
Mr. Deasy, Mr. Magan, and Sir R. Fergusson took part,
Mr. BRADY withdrew his amendment, and the
house went into committee on the bill.
Clause 1 was agreed to, after some verbal amend-
ment 4.

Oa clause two being proplsed, a lengthened discus-
sion took place as to the length of tenantcy, during which
Mr. Meagher moved that the chairman report progress.
Mr. HORSMA.N refused to accede to such a pro-
position._

- Sir W. SOMERVILLE said without the house
adopted a more f-peedy proceeding than the present it
would be impossible to pass the bill this session—a course
he should most deeply regret.
Mr. KIRK opposed the reporting progress.
Mr. KENNEDY suggested the withdrawal of the
bill altogether, and the introduction of a more complete
measure.

The motion that the Chairman report progress was
lost on a division, and the suggestion of the ATTOR-
NEY-GENERA for IRELAND, that the tenantcy
shou'd be for one year or any less period, agreed to.
Mr. M'MAHON moved another amendment to
the clause, which he ultimately withdrew.
Mr. BRADY moved the insertion of words in line 34
of the same clause, to secure proper drainage and water-
closets for the habitations.

Sir W. SOMERVILLE said the word used in the
bill was "sufficient," and h 3 thought that was quite
enough. He should oppose the amendment of the hon.
member.

The house then divided when the numbers were—
For the amendment
Against it
Majority against the amendment--121
Another amendment to the same clause was proposed.
Mr. MAGUIRE moved that the chairman report
progress and a&lc leave to sit again.
Tue house then divided when there appeared—
A 3 es—. 24
Noes

Majority against reporting progress 135
It being now a quarter to 6, in compliance with stand-
Log orlers, the Chairman reported progress, and obtained
leave to sit again. _

The Committee on the Church Rate Abolition Bill
was postponul till Friday, with the view of fixing a day
for the further proceeding with the bill.
The Justices of the Peace Qualification Bill was oom•
mitted pro forma, fur the purpose of introducing cer-
tain amendments.

The other orders of the day were then disposed of and
;he house adjourned.