The Sun.
London, England, 1844-07-29 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAME
(THIS DAY.)

HOUSE OF COMMONS.
The SPEAKER took the Chair at Twelve o'cloot'i
The Willenhall Chapel Estate Bill was read $
time and passed.
Mr. MACKINNON presented a- petition frt",
Corporation and Commissioners of Police in i
praying for a Cominis,ion to inquire whether or sll'
nuisance of smoke could be abolished.
MERCHANT SEAMEN'S BILL.
Mr. S. HERBERT moved that the House resel,tfi
self into Committee on the Merchant Seamen's Pio
Mr. FORSTER objected to the motion. The 131_,4
in his opinion, improperly pressed forward at thstf.;
of the session.- It was an attempt to navigate oii.lti
Act of Parliament_—(Laughter)—and an imprel
terference between masters and men. He hoped
would not be persevered in during the present Selo
Mr. HODGSON HINDE said he did not feel
strory, objections to the Bill as the Hon. Gentlero7 .
posye, but he must say he regretted, with him,
was brought forward at so late a period.
Mr. SIDNEY HERBERT said he had had
communications with shipowners hi reference t°
Bill ; and out of three alterations, which were°
bad been suggested, two had been adopted. He be
the measure was a most useful one, and would
great benefit both on masters and seamen. Most °{
provisions had been suggested by his Right Hon..
(Sir James Graham) at a former period ; but they
not proposed, because at that time the greatest
dice existed against any interference.—(Hear, „hi
The Government felt it their duty to proceed ea'
Bill this session.
Mr. HUTT certainly wished that the Bill had
brought forward at an earlier period of the session;
he would rather it was proceeded with this session
postponed until the next.
Sir C. NAPIER said that the Bill was a Ws,'
portant measure both for masters and seamen, nil
thought the country at large was greatly indebted to
Government for bringing it forward. The Hon. It
then described the impositions which were praell;
crimps upon sailors, and said he believed this Bill
do much to put an end to the system.
After a few words from Mr. %YAWN,
Mr. HUME said the Government had no doubt,
power to pass any measure they pleased, but the:l
tion was whether it was prudent to interfere °,
manner at the present time. In his opinion it wits,'
Sir J. GRAHAM said there was nothing nor''
provisions of this Bill. All its leading provisions
formed the subject of discussion for months between
Admiralty and the shipowners, and he believed the,
were generally in favour of the measure before the Ili
The House then went into Committee on the Bib' '
Mr. MORE O'FERRALL supported the Bidbd
described the beneficial effects of sailors' home,
commended their establishment in all sea- port towos'..
threw it Out for the consideration of the Geeertv,y
whether they could not establish a system between
masters of vessels and the sailors' homes for the tnl'
of the sailors with good clothing, in order to prevel°o
being robbed and defrauded by the persons called CTt
Clause 1 was agreed to.
On clause 2 being proposed, bt
Mr. BOUVERIE objected to a stipulation
contained to prevent a sailor from working his w8)0',
to any foreign port. He could not understand why .d
should wish this unless they feared that the regi,t,,,,ce
system would cause seamen to go into foreign ',e400.1
and had introduced this stipulation to prevent it.---V; tOl
Mr. S. HERBERT said it was done more
benefit of the seamen than any one else ; for
sometimes found that sailors who worked their 1,'!)J0
to foreign ports, get involved in distress, and retro'
be brought back at the public expense.
Clause 2
vas then agreed to.
Clause 3 was agreed to without amendment:. J.
Clause 4 was agreed to with some verbal s"'
mews.

Clause 5 was agreed to.
Ciathes 6 and 7 were agreed to with some
amendments.
Clause 8 was agreed to. •
On clause 9 being proposed, which enacts that t 1
of desertion, a seaman shall forfeit the whole °f
wages to the owner.
Sir CHARLES NAPIER thought. that if he lee;
forfeit half his wages it would be sufficient punisb 1,04
He had known several cases in which sailors had
very ill-treated to induce them to desert.
The clause was then agreed to.
Clauses up to 13 were agreed to. •
On clause 14 being proposed.
Mr. SYDNEY HERBERT explained, in anso'f:oS
question from an Hon. Member, that the proyisi colo"
the Act were not intended to extend to Indian or nial shipping.
The clause was then agreed to.
Clauses up to 18 were then agreed to. eni
Clause 18 was also agreed to with a few verbal 9
ments; as were also clauses 19 up to 32.
[LEFT SITTING.]