The Sun.
London, England, 1866-03-09 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OF LORDS.-LAST EVENING.
CATTLE PLAGUE BILL.
On the motion of Earl GRANVILLE, the house
went into committee on this bill, the standing orders Nos.
37 and 38 being dispensed with.
Clauses 1,2, and 3 were agreed to without discussion.
Clause 4, with some verbal amendments, was agreed to.
The principal debate arose upon a clause giving to the
Privy Council a discretionary power to discontinue the
compulsory slaughter of cattle after the passing of the act.
The Duke of RICHMOND objected to the clause, and
proposed to amend it by deferring the discretionary power
until after the 15th April, the date fixed by the 12th sec-
tion of the Cattle Diseases Act.
Lord GRANVILLE supported the amendment, believ .
ing that it was desirable that the experiment of compulsory
slaughter should be tried for a few weeks.
The Duke of MARLBOROUGH believed that it would
be impossible to get the local authorities to carry out a
system of compulsory slaughter, which had originated in
a moment of panic, and which would be more injurious
than the disease which it was intended to meet. He should
recommend that a discretionary power be given to the
local authorities, to order compulsory slaughter or not, as
they might deem it advisable in the circumstances of their
respective localities.
After some remarks from the Duke of Argyll and Lord
Kinnaird in support of the clause, and from support of
Lord Spencer in the amendment, the committee divided,
when the amendment was carried by a majority of 57 to 24.
The Duke of MARLBOROUGH then proposed a clause
giving immediate discretion to local authorities to suspend
the compulsory slaughter of cattle which were recovering,
but, after a brief discussion, the clause was negatived by
50 to 24.
The only other clause which led to any debate was one
proposed by Lord LICHFIELD, the effect of which was
to close all markets and fairs for a considerable time to
comp.
Lord GRANVILLE objected to the clause, and pointed
out the inconvenience that would arise from restraining the
action of the Privy.Couneil.
Lord SPENCER supported the clause, which, upon a
division, was carried by 24 to 22.
The remaining clauses were agreed to, and, by a sus-
pension of the standing orders, the bill was read a third
time and passed.
The Savings-banks and Post-office Savings-banks Bill
was also read a third time and passed.
Their lordships then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS—LAST EVENING.
The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock.
COOLIE EMIGRATION.

Mr. BAILLIE COCHRANE asked the President of the
Board of Trade whether any inquiry had been instituted
into the terrible loss of life in the coolie emigration ships
in those voyages which are called by seamen
the voyages of death ; whether he was aware that
during the last year ten per cent. of the coolies
who were embarked in these ships were drowned; and
whether, more particularly, any inquiry had been insti-
tuted into the loss of the Eagle Speed off Haliday Island in
August last, under most disastrous circumstances ?

Mr. M. GIBSON said a communication had been re-
ceived which stated that there had been great loss of life
amongst the coolies by fever, and the Indian Government
had, as it was said to be of a typhoid type, directed every
precaution should be taken. With respect to the second
part of the question he had to say that it was an overstate-
ment to say that 10 per cent. of the coolies were lost. The
loss of life by the disaster to the Eagle Speed was 262.
With respect to the last portion of the question, an inquiry
had been instituted by the Indian Government, the report
had but just been received, but it would be laid on the
table of the house without the least delay.