The Sun.
London, England, 1861-02-08 00:00:00

POST-OFFICE SAVINGS BA' KS.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER again rose,
and said he had now to propose another resolution, which
was also of a character strictly preliminary, and which re-
lated to a point entirely distinct from
i the former one, al-
though both were connected, and both involved considerable
liability for the Consolidated Fund. The resolutions which
he had now to propose related to a subject on which great
interest was felt in the country, and relative to which he
entertained a sincere hope there would not be found any ir-
reconcileable or very serious difference of opinion. Her
Majesty's Government had been for some time back prepar-
ing a plan by means of which a very effective and easy ma-
chinery of the Post-office in connection with money orders
might be made available for effecting a great extension of
the facilities now—
The CHAIRMAN (Mr. Massey) called the right hon.
gentleman to order. The present committee could only
consider a resolution relative to the Consolidated Fund.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he
would then give notice for a committee for to-morrow.
The house then resumed.
PAROCHIAL RATING.
Sir G. C. LEWIS rose to ask for leave to introduce a bill
for the amendment of parochial assessment in England. lie
did not intend to propose any alteration in the existing law
of rating, nor any alteration in the rules which determined
the liability of property to local rates, or which defined the
different proportions in which that liability affected different
kinds of property. He proposed to introduce an improve-
ment in the made of assessment. It was well known that
the present mode of assessment was defective, and it was in
the power of the parish officers to depart from the general
assessment of the parish, and to adopt.an arbitrary assess-
ment of their own, and his object was to introdttee greater
uniformity and greater certainty in the mode of making the
assessment on which rates were levied, and depriving parish
officers of the power of departing from the general assess-
ment. The measures would be confined to the poor rate
and the county rate. With regard to the county rate, he
proposed that the county justices should appoint a board of
their number, of not less than five or greater than 11, to be
called the assessment board of the county, and ho proposed
a similar board for boroughs. These boards would be em-
powered to require returns from the parish officers, and to
enforce their production, and to examine witnesses. The
board would have the power to direct a revision of the lists,
and in case of necessity to appoint valuers whose valuation
would be open to inspection. Persons would be allowed 14
days to make objections, which the board were to hear.
Appeals to the sessions would be allowed on questions of
law, but not on questions of fact or value. The valuation
BO arrived at by those boards would be the assessment of
the respective parishes, and from that assessment the pa-
riah officers could not depart, and upon it every rate would
have to be made until such valuation should be revised and
1 new property had grown up. In the discussion which had
taken place last year on this subject it would be recollected
it wax stated that in rural parishes the assessments varied
from 10 to 20 per cent, below the proper rateable value.
The right hon. gentleman concluded by moving for leave
to bring in the bill.
Mr. DEEDES said he agreed it was desirable that a uni-
form system of rating should be established, as there were
very'great discrepancies in the existing system, especially
in the rural districts. With regard to the county rate he
could not gather that the proposed measure would materi-
ally amend the present system. In the county which he
had the honour to represent there was at this moment a
standing committee of the justices charged especially with
the supervision of the assessments of the different parishes,
in order to see that wherever new property had grown up,
or property had become of greater value, it was properly
assessed.
Sir G. C. LEWIS said the object he had in view was to
assimilate the system throughout the country.
In reply Co Mr. S. ESTCOURT,
Sir G. C. LEWIS said the bill would not extend to high-
way rates.

Leave waa then given to bring in the bill.
HIGHWAYS BILL.

Sir G. C. LEWIS moved for leave to introduee a bill for
the better management of highways. It was, he observed,
almost identical with the bill of last session. The great ex-
tension of the railway system had rendered improvement
absolutely necessary in the law with respect to highways,
for the highways had been entirely changed in their cha-
racter, and country roads that led to railway stations were
of more importance than those which were maintained
under turnpike acts.
After a short discussion,
Leave was given to introduce the bill.
THE BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE.
Lord PALMERSTON then rose to move the following
resolution:—" That a select committee be appointed to con-
sider whether, by any alterations in the forms and proceed-
ings of this house, the despatch of public business can be
more effectually promoted." The noble lord said—Sir, I
rise in pursuance of the notice which I have given to pro-
pose the appointment of a committee to consider whether any
change can be made in the forms and proceedings of the
house which will tend to accelerate the progress of public
business. It is well known that both in the house and out
of it there has prevailed for some considerable time past an
opinion that some of the forms which have hitherto been in
force might be dispensed with without injury to the public
interests, and at the same time provide for a considerable ac-
celeration of public business. It is also well known that seve-
ral improvements have already been made in this respect—
for instance, much time has been saved by the regulation
that no speeches shall be made upon the presentation of pe-
' titions, as was formerly the practice ; much time has also
been saved, and no injury caused to the public service, by the
rule that a bill once in committee and progress made shall be
taken up at the same point without any specific motion being
made for that purpose. 'Again, much time has been saved by
referring bills of the same kind to the same committee. Thus
various improvements have been made, all of which have
tended to accelerate the public business of the house, and I
am not aware that any complaint has been made against
those changes, or that they have in any degree interfered with
a full and free discussion by the house in dealing with the
matters brought before them. (Hear, hear.) Undoubtedly
the house ought to be very cautious in making changes of this
sort, because whilo on the one hand it is desirable that the
public business of the country should be expedited and no time
lost in transacting it, yet on the other hand expedition is not
the sole purpose for which the house meets. The house meets
for the purpose of amply discussing all matters which are
brought under their consideration, and they are not to
adopt short methoils of disposing of the business, which by
their very shortness will prevent that full consideration and
discussion which are necessary to be given to the matters
brought under the notice of the house. 'We have felt that
it is not desirable that the executive government should
take upon themselves to propose any specific measures to
the house, as we think that these are matters which ought
to be considered by a committee, and not a small commit-

tee, but a committee composed of members from both sides
of the house who are conversant with the proceedings and
forms of the house, and who, by their number and impar-
tiality, can suggest improvements for the acceleration of
the business of the house without, at the same time, per-
mitting any intetrerence with the amplitude "of the discus-
sions upon all measures proposed. (Hear, hear.) There are
several suggestions which have been made in various quar-
ters, and I all mention some of them, simply as illustra-
tions, but without intending to propose them as matters for
the committee to consider. One of the suggestions which
have been made has not been noticed so much in this house
as in the other house of parliament, and it is that bills
which, having gone through certain stages in one house of
Parliament, should not at the end of the session be dropped,
if they cannot be passed before the prorogation takes place,
but be taken up at the same stage in the next session of Par-
liament. (Hear.) That is one suggestion upon which I will
not give any opinion. (Hear.) Another suggestion which
has been made is that, in the early part of the session, say
until Easter or until progress has been made in the esti-
mates, an additional day in the week should be given to the
Government for their measures. At present the Govern-
ment have only two days in the week. This also is a matter
which the committee will probably think it right to consi-
der ; and further, whether to give another day to the Go-
vernment will be encroaching too much on the days allotted
to private members. This is also a matter upon which I
will give no opinion, but leave it entirely in the hands of
the committee. It has been often discussed whether some
limit ought n,,t to be put upon the practice of giving no-
tices of motions upon the question of the adjournment of
the house on Friday to the succeeding Monday. (Hear.) This
has been a matter very frequently discussed in this house,
and many opinions are entertained upon it—someone way
and some the other, and I presume it is not too much to say
that it will be a matter the committee will consider and
report their opinion upon. it is thought by many that a

great deal of public inconvenience arises from the extreme
latitude taken by hon. members on going into committee of

supply, for there are times when the interposition of mo.

tons on other subjects tend to prevent the house from

going into a committee of supply. Hon. gentlemen come
down to the house prepared to discuss the estimates, and
when they arrive here they find that instead of going into
that committee the house is talking about the affairs of
Syria, Italy, or India, or some other matter. This is also

a matter which I think the committee will take into their
consideration. Ou the other hand, it is an old maxim that
" grievance and supply go together," and therefore it is
thought that schen supply is to be proceeded with hon.
members may talk of everything else. (Hear, hear.) This
is a practice which has grown up very much of late years;
so much, indeed, that you, sir, have not thought it right to
interfere, but there has been a great departure by the house
from the rules laid down, and particularly in this respect,
that when an hon. member gets up and is beginning to
make la a speech without any specific motion—a speech wholly
regular—he says he will move the adjournment of the
uLouse. and then he goes on and makes a speech altogether
neenneeted with the question whether the house on ght to
adjourn or not, (near, hear.) It is a question whether
the Strict rule not to be enforced which requires thttt every