The Sun.
London, England, 1868-05-06 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OF LORDS—LAST EVENING.
The Loin CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack
at fivo o'clock.

EDUCATION BILL:

Earl GRANVILLE asked the noble duke opposite
whether it was his intention to bring on this bill on Thurs-
day next.
The Duke of MARLBOROUGH said that he thought
that was too early a period. It would be brought on on
Thursday week.
FRIENDLY SOCIETIES BILL.
The Earl of LICHFIELD, in moving the second read-
ing of this bill, said that he would only occupy a short
time in Calling their lordships' attention to the conditions
of the-bill. He stated that, in addition to the number of
societies which were registered, there were many which
were Lot, and therefore, when he moved for the returns of
those societies, he knew that there were many which did
not come under their lordships' notice. If he had moved
that there should be a return of all those receiving out-
door relief, it would be very difficult to furnish, inasmuch
as some guardians gave only slight relief, and others a
great deal. Consequently, any returns from a board of
guardians would not be reliable. He must now, howeve r
assert that he believed that the conditions of the
Poor-law did not interfere with any of the habits of
frugality of those persons who became members of these
societies. He could also assert that these societies carried
on most extensive operations. In the third clause of the
bill the provisions had been purposely misrepresenied, but
even those petitions against the bill came from three
societies. This clause was that which related to the mem-
bers of friendly societies insuring the lives of those per-
sons in the same house with themselves, but he was pre-
pared to say that this bill did not interfere with the
regulations of friendly societies, nor prevent members
from insuring the lives of their children far funeral ex-
penses. He also could assure their lordships that provi-
sions for the admission of minors were expressly provided
for. In other clauses it was expressly set out that mem-
bers of these societies should be able to insure their chil-
dren. Other clauses related to the transfer from one society
to another. This transfer was in many cases a great
hardship. Other conditions provided for those who found
themselves exel u led by forfeiture, but provided that they
F Ivnild not lose the benefit of their subscriptions until due
notice Lad been given them. In his bill facilities were given
for redress if there was any difficulty in obtaining that
return which the members were entitled to. The c msa-
()pence often was that a friendly soci .ty became another
class of society, and the member became, without his own
consent or knowledge, a memberof the other one Friendly
societies did most useful workiatmongst the working
classes. There were such socienrs as the Omit Fell ,ws
and the Foresters, who numbered between thmn near
100,000 members; and ho would ask how it was, with're-
gard to the petition against his bill, that these two societies
had not joined in condemning it if they disapproved
of it? The societies trom which these petitions came
were signed by members who bad no management over
these societies whatever. He found that the expenditure
of these societies exceeded their income, and he thought
that there could be no question that the society which had
not more than one year's income must be insolvent.
These societies had petitioned to be heard against the
bill, but what would be the effect of this? It would only
show the importance of the bill. With these remarks

he should conclude that part of the attack upon it. He
concluded with the remark that it was necessary that re-
turns relating to the expenditure, income, &c., of these
burial societies should be made, and that their lordships
should carefully look into them. A groat do•i1 of the
money of these societies was left in the hands of the col-
lectors and agents.

The bill was read a second time, and their lordships
adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMNIONS—LLT EVENING.
The SPEAKER took his seat at 4 o'clock.
THE HABEAS CORPUS ACT.
In reply_to_llr. BAGWELL,

The Earl of MAYO said there were when the applica,
tion was made for the continuance of the suspension of
the Act 96 persons in confinemenc. That morning there
were only 23, of whom 14 had received offers of liberty if
they would leave the country, or give good security for
their good behaviour. He believed in a short lima all
effects of the operation of the Act would cease.

THE REFORM ACT.
Mr. SCHREIBER asked the First Lord of the Treasury,
with reference to his answer of the 18th February upon
the same subject, when he would state what recommenda-
tions he was prepared to make for the enfranchisement of
compound householders in parishes not within existing
borough boundaries, but which must be wholly or in
part added to boroughs, and of whom the Boundary Com-
missioners report that "they will b 3 precluded from quali-
fying as voters in the year 1863, unless some special pro-
vision is made for their protection."

Mr. DISRAELI said the matter was not included in the
Boundary B 11, because it was proposed that he should
bring up a clause when the report was made, and the,
reason it was not embodied in the bill was because such a
course might be rendered unnecessary.
THE MINISTERIAL STATEMENT.

Mr. (LADSTONE said he had to move the adjourn-
ment of the house, in order that an opportunity might be
given to the right hon. gentleman (Mr. Disraeli) of ex-
plaining the declaraticn he had made in the second
edition of his speech which he made when he
(Mr. Gladstone) had no opportunity of asking for
an explanation. The right hon. gentleman had informed
the house that, having had an andience of her Majesty,
and explained to her Majesty the position in which the
Ministry stood by the result of the vote that had been
come to in that house, that if her Majesty preferred to
adopt a different course to that suggested, viz., a dissolu-
tion of Parliament, they were quite ready to place their
resignation in her hands. Her Majesty, the right hon. gen-
tleman informed them, had thought it right not to receive
the resignation of the Ministry, but to adopt the suggested
dissolution of Parliament as soon as the state of the public
business permitted. (Hear, hear.) The statement of
the right honourable gentleman, according to ono of
the members for the Tower Hamlets, made her
Majesty the suggestor, not the acceptor or rejector,
of advice, and he felt that that. was altogether a new posi-
tion to- place the Crown in. The explanation given by the
right hon. gentleman opposite was that her Majesty
hail given her sanction to a dissolution without
reference to either the old or the new constituencies.
But a statement had been made in another place by the
Duke of Richmond to the effect that the Premier had
tendered to her Majesty the resignation of the Ministry on
Priday, but her Majesty took time to consider, and on
Saturday the right hon. gentleman again raw her Majesty,
and then the suggestion of the dissolution was accepted
and the resignation of the Ministry refused. The statement
of the noble duke did not accord with the communication
made by the right hon. gentleman to the House of Com-
mons:and he wished to know whether the dissolution was
to be made and Parliament elected by the old or new con -
stitnencies. (Rear, hear.) The term that dissolution was
to take place as soon as the state of the public business
permitted was a very vague statement. He wished to know
whether the Duke of Richmond spoke the feelings of the
Government as a whole ? (Hear. hear.)
Mr. DISUAELI said he had no wish Last night to