The Sun.
London, England, 1868-06-17 00:00:00

TURNPIKE TRUSTS BILL.

Mr. KNATCLIBULL fIUGESSEN, in moving the
second reading of this bill, said that on a previous occasion
he had fully explained the details of the measure, and
had hoped therefore not now to trouble the house with
a lengthy statement. Thera were, however, difficulties
thrown in the way of passing the bill. Petitions had been
presented against it as adding to the local taxation. Many
thought the burden ehould be laid upon the general
taxation of the country, whilst others again urged that
the present method worked wall. The hon. mem-
ber appealed to official documents, to show that the
expenses of collection, &c., amounted to 30 per cent. on
the turnpike revenues. Under this new bill
powers were conferred on the ratepayers which
had hitherto rested on an irresponsible body of persons.
By the termination of two trusts last year the expenses
of nearly 670 miles of road were throws upon the rates of
the parishes, and he coll.' cite many instances to show
the unequal bearing of the present system. As to
the o'.jection that the debt should be defrayed out of
the Consolidated Fund, he did not think it was founded
on justice. Tee banlhollers could not have a permanent
claim on the tolls. They lend their money cm a contract,
w:11 knowing that the c entr.tet was terminable at any time .
The present system caused a don le set of expenses in the
Same district, and it was to the interest of th oil 331'S to
keep the tolls still in d )bt. Tim 3u, again, the represent•--
tives of the agriculturists said that the c tpitalist an 1 the
bondholder would escape payment uu ler the bill. Tile
hon. member th -n showed how many anomalies would be
removed if a district rate were adapted as he proposed.
lie replied to the obj..ction that the bill gave too much
power to the Hove Secretary.

- -
Mr: KNIGHT moved that the bill be read a second
time that day six months.
A long discussion followed, during which Mr. G. Hardy
said, although he could not assent to the bill, yet he
thought that some itnprovetnent of the system of manage-
tnent of the main roads of the country was rendered neces-
sary in consequence of the extension of railways.
Mr. HUGESSEN said the general principles of his
bill having been admitted, he would not troulbe the house
further, but withdraw it.
MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS (METROPOLIS)
BILL.
Mr. S. MILL moved the second reading of this bill,
the object of which was to give to the metropolis eight
municipal districts, and to allow each to exercise
the powers of the municipal corporations. The effect of
such an arrangement would be not to increase the rates, as
had been said, but to keep them down, and prevent those
local quarrels which now were by no means uncommon
amongst local bodies. The vestries would cease
their sittings, and tho Metropolitan Board of
Works, which had nearly accomplished the work
for which it had been created, would no longer be
required, as the municipal bodies created under the bill
would be enabled to transact the business done by that
body in a far more efficient manner. Ho had originally
intended to introduce a measure to create ono central and
directing body, but that he had been prevented from doing
so owing to certain requirements of the standing orders
not having been complied with as far as regarded the city
of London.
Mr. C. BENTINCK objected to the bill, and moved that
it be read a second time that day six months. The mea-
sure, in his opinion, instead of allaying jealousies, would
greatly increase them ; and, with respect to economy, the
whole thing vanished, as by one of the clause of the bill
each of these metropolitan districts was to erect ep tcious
town halls, and money was to be set aside for the enter-
taining of strangers. He thought it would be bet'er for the
hon. member dhe waited until the other bill he had
referred to was before the house before he had proceeded
with the one now under consideration. He objected to
the bill because it was strongly opposed by the vestries,
and a very powerful deputaticn from the metropolitan
vestries protested against the measure. It was idle to say
that the great body of ratepayers were in favour of the
bill; ho felt certain it was repudiated by every one who
had given the least consideration to it.
Mr. HARVEY LEWIS opposed the bill, which he
thought would greatly increase rather than diminish
parochial expenses. There had been no particular demand
for the measure that he was aware of, and under such
circumstances he hoped the house would refuse to give
the bill a second reading.
Col. HOGG opposed the bill. With respect to the pe;

Lions presented hi favour of the bill, he lsi.d been curious,
and on inquiry he found they had amounted to 239, with
241. signatures. (Laughter.) He did nut think the hon.
member for Westminster could Iry the people of Loudon
were in favour of the bill. He thought the result of creat-
ing these corporations would be to call into being a squab-
bling mass, and the perpetration of innumerable jobs.
Mr. AYRTON said instead of proceeding with the bill,
it would be much better to pass a resolution, calling upon
the Government to take the matter into their considera-
tion, with a view of introducing a bill for the bettor go-
vernment of the metropolis.
Sir J. FERGUSON said ho could not vote for the second
reading of the bill.
Mr. LOCKE also opposed the bill.
Sir S. NORTHCOTE was addressing the house at a
quarter to six, at which hour the debate ceased in ac-
cordance with the standing orders.
MUNICIPAL RATES (EDINBURGH) BILL.
This bill went through committee and was reported
without amendment.
The house then adjourned..

MILITIA.—On the day of inspection of the
militia in England in 1867 there were present 1,625 offi-
cers, 2,986 non-commissioned officers, and 54,225 privates
There wore absent with leave 228 officers, 17 non-com-
missioned officers, and 1,195 privates ; and absent without
leave 11 officers, 3 non-commissioned officers, and 3,518
privates. In Scotland there were present 234 officers,
429 non-commissioned officers, and 8,-232 privates; and
there wore absent with leave 35 officers and 120 privateQ,
and without leave 2 officers, 1 non-commissioned officer,
and 411 privates. The militia. in Ireland was not trained
in 1867. The establishment of the militia for the United
Kingdom is returned as comprising 124,622 privates, but
26,202 were wanting to complete. The largeness of this
last number is chiefly caused by the reduction made in 1861
iu the effective strength of all regiments whose establish-
ments exceed 600 privates.
The Revolution, the American organ of Woman's
Rights, notes the fact that the Congregational
Church of Harlem, Rev. S. Bourne, pastor, on the
report of the committee appointed a year ago, have
recently so amended the standing rule of that
church that women are now eligible as officers.
The vote was unexpectedly large. it required a
two-thirds vote, but it was four to one. The
women of that congregation may now be pastor,
deacons, trustees, as well as cltYOut members.