The Sun.
London, England, 1867-04-12 00:00:00

BILLS.

The Marine Mutiny Bill was road a second time and
passed.
THE CANADA RAILWAY LOAN BILL.

The ;Duke of BUCKINGHAM said that in proposing
the third reading of this bill he might state that it was
intended that a loan of £3,000,000 should bo given to
Canada for a railway loan, and that the new
Confederation should give certainguarantees to thelmperial
Government for its repayment and for the consolidation of
a sinking fund, and that a railway should also be con-
structed communicating between the centre of authority in
Canada and to the nearest ports. It. was more especially
necessary that there should not be any restriction by hav-
ing a railway passing through another country, and the
present arrangement would allow the whole line to go
through the Confederate Provinces. This present scheme
would be precisely in keeping with the system of Cana-
dian railways. It had been shown that, despite the vicis-
situdes of climate, there would be in future on American
railways very little interruption of the traffic. The
present proposal appeared advantageous to Ca-
nada and to the country. It would in the
main greatly facilitate the intimacy between the mother
country and the provinces. It was necessary for those
who brought forward this motion to prove and be satis-
fied that the guarantee now to be given to Canada would
not involve any expense ultimately to the tax-payers of
this country, and taking into consideration the great de-
velopment that had taken place in Canada in conse-
quence of the assistance rendered by the mother
country that they were perfectly justified in granting
this loan, relying upon the security which Canada offered.
By the last clause of this act the Canadian Government
bad proposed to give a preference for the repayment of
this loan, even against any debt that might be incurred
by the municipal Government of that country. There
was an evident desire on the part of the colony to comply
with the wish of the Imperial Government to repay the
loan.
Lurd LYVEDEN was opposed to the bill from the fact
that it had not been definitely settled which way the line
was to pass, and it was notorious that every one of the
railways which had been promoted in Canada had failed.
He thought that by holding out this great warning
to the United States that they might be in-
duced to go to war - with us. By fortifying
and proceeding as we were doing we were very much more
likely to induce a war than by taking a different course.
He disputed the advisability of the line in question. He was
not aware what the Canadians had done towards the forti-

fictions of the country, and trusted that the noble duke
would explain that to them.
Lord RUSSELL took a different view,and fully approved
the bill, observing that the knowledge that England was
prepared to defend Canada against unprincipled invasion
must tend greatly to diminish the probabilities of such an
attempt. It would not be wise to remove all our troops
from Canada as we had done from New Zealand, because
the circumstances were not the same, the latter colony
having no extensive land frontier open to attack. While
doubting the existence of any desire on the part of the
United Statos io invade Canada, and admitting the diffi-
culty of the task of defending those colonies if they were
invaded, ho nevertheless thought it would be dishonour-
able to refuse that protection which the Queen's subjects in
America had a right to expect.
The Dyke of C &ABRIDGE regarded the proposed
railway as of the greatest importance for the mili-
tary defence of Canada, and while expecting that as the
colonies advanced in prosperity and increased in population

they would coutributo ntoro extensively to their own pro-
tection, he did net believe it would be possible, consis-
tently with prudence, to withdraw the Imperial troops,
some portion of which must remain to servo as a nucleus
for the united forces of the Confederation. _ _

After a few words of explanation from the Duke of
BtiCKINGHAM, the bill was read a third time and passed.
Lord SHAFTESBURY then drew attention to the sys-
tem of agricultural gangs common in some of the eastern
counties, and quoted largely from the report of the Com-
missioners who bad inquired into the subject, to show that
the system entailed cruelty, immorality, and disease among
the children of the agricultural class in the districts where
it existed. Combating an opinion that had been put forth
in the House of Commons, that the evils could not be
remedied by Parliamentary enactments, he cited the Fac-
tory Acts to prove that such interference might be proper
and beneficial, and announced his intention of bringing in
a bill to prohibit the employment of females under 18 in
public gangs, to prevent the employment of children under
eight, and females under 11, in any field labour.
Lord KIMBERLEY confirmed from his own experience
the statements of Lord Shaftesbury asto the great evils of
the gang system, and cordially approved some such legis-
lation as that suggested.
Lord BELMORE, on the part of the Government, pro-
mised that any measure upon the subject should receive
careful attention, aid stated that the reason why the
Home Secretary had not introduced any bill was because
be thought some further inquiry was needed.
Their Lordships then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS-LAST EVENING.

The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock.

PRIVATE BUSINESS.

The tollowins bills were read a third time and passed :
Aylesbury Market, Barnoldawick Railway, Bristol and
Exeter Railway (Exo Valley Railways), Dundalk and
Greenore Railway, Dundee Gas, Great Western Railway,
Launceston ltua ls, Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Gateshead
Gas, Poole Reads, Salford Borough, Sheffield Water
(Amendment), Sheffield Water (New Works), Stockport
Corporation Water, and Waterford and Wexford Railway,
and Rosslare Harbour.
ENGLAND AND SPAIN.
Mr. OSBORNE asked whether the noble lord the Secre-
tary for Foreign Affairs would give the house any precise
information with respect to the position of the Government
with Spain.
-

Lord STANLEY said there were, unfortunately, two
questions of importance now pending between this country
and Spain. The first, with respect to the Tornado ;he
had received a communication which he could not look
upon as altogether satisfactory, but which he did not take
to be final or conclusive. With respect to the othor, and
more important question, v:z., that relating to the Queen
Victoria, he had received uo reply to his communication to
the Spanish Government.

• INTERNATIONAL CURRENCY CONFERENCE.
In reply to Mr. FOSTER,
Lord STANLEY said he had received an invitation
from the French Government to send a delegate to the
conference, and he had replied that a gentleman would be
empowered to attend and take part iu the proceedings of
the conference, but it was to be clearly understood that he
was not in any way to bind the Government to any pro.
position.

THE REFORM BILL.

In reply toldr. HIBBERT,

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the
question of tights of compound householders was a very
difficult one. He had placed a number of amendments on
th 6 paper, and so had other hon. members. He could only
say so long as those amendments were in consonance with
the principle of the bill, viz., personal payment of taxes
and term of residence, he should give the most careful con-
sideration to all propositions from whichever side of the
house they should come.
Earl GROSVENOR said there was a general feeling on
both sides of the house that the question should be settled,
and that a bill should be passed this session which would be
a lasting one. He believed that there was a general feel-
ing in the house that the further consideration of the Re-
form Bill should be postponed until after Easter, especially
as they bad but one night to devote to tho dis-
cussion before they adjourned for the recess.
Hon. members had motions on the paper for
to-morrcw which would prevent the debate being
resumed that evening. Under all the circumstances he
thought it would be thu best course to pursue further
yruceeding with the bill until after Easter. If the delay
he suggested was agreed to, no doubt a compromise
might be come to by both sides of the house, which would
secure the passing of the bill.

Mr. AYRTON thought the house ought to proceed with
the discussion on the bill without the slightest delay, and
the best way to make progress was to have a practical
debate on the subject. If any delay took placo. the
people of the country would think the Ilouso of Commons
had entered on the matter for the pw•puse of barking the
question of reform. He thought the honse, ought not to
separate until it had expressed its opinion upon the first
proposition in the bill.
Mr. a COCHRANE said his motion for to-morrow was
an important one with respect to Spain, and ho could uut
consent to its postponement. . .

Mr. GLADSTONE said the noble lord the member for