The Sun.
London, England, 1845-03-15 00:00:00

NEW ZEALAND.

Lord EBRINGTON wished to ask the Right Hon. Baronet
at the head of the Government when the dismission on the New

Zealand business would take place ?
Sir H. PEEL replied, that though it was inconvenient to
say on what day the discussion would be taken, in consequence
of the indisposition of his Noble Friend, yet he would, for the
present, appoint Tuesday.
COTTON DUTIES.

Mr. THORNELY said that he did not know whether the
Right Hon. Baronet at the head of the Government was aware
of the quantity of cotton now waiting for the decision respecting
the duty. He believed there was as much as 300,000 bales
now in the country, and he should be glad therefore to know
on what day the consideration of the duties would be
brought on.
Sir R. PEEL said that it should be brought on as soon as
possible, but it was evidently clear that it was out of his power
to force the business of the country. The House sat frequently
from twelve at noon till twelve at night, with little intermis-
sion, but the cotton duties should be brought on as soon as an
opportunity could be provided.
AGRICULTURAL DISTRESS.

After frequent calla from the Opposition henclees,
Mr. MILES said that he would not interrupt the Com-
mittee.—( Hear, hear, and cries of " Go on," "Go on.") •He
thought that it was at his own option whether he went on or
' not, aid he'would not go on at that time of the night. Great
aspersions had gone abroad, the most gross calumnies, that the
friends with whom he acted were only going into a sham
battle—(lronical cheers for some moments)—now what they de-
sired was a fair, stand up fight, and they wished to show that
the distress among the agriculturists was deep and widely spread.
Mr. HUME wished much to know what the fight was to
be shoot.
Mr. PER RAND said he would tell tke Hon. Member for
Montrose what it was to be about. The Right Hon. Baronet
the Secretary for the Home Department had stated the other
night that distress was prevalent and serious among the agri-
cultural labourers, that it could be no tenger neglected. Now
he ( Mr. Ferrand) would tell ;he -light Hon. Baronet that not
only was the distress great among the labourers, but that
thousands awl thousands of faro ers in Etulanil were at thy
mosoent insolvent and ruiroei by the measures of the present
Government since the came into offiee. —( Hear, hear )
—and the fight was to show that this was the ease. If the
Right Hon Baronet was sincere in his regard for the
labourer, why did he not allow the Committee—( Hear, hear)
—asked for by the Hon. Member for Stockport ( Mr.Cobden )?
Why did he not meet the challenge which that Hon. Me ~ber
threw out to him ?—( sear, hear.) In saying this he would
tell them why he did not vote for that Committee. He
did not vote because he was for the protection of the agricul-
turist and not for his destruction.—( Hear, hear.)
The . motion of his Honourable Friend was intended to
protect the agriculturist, and he hoped he would persevere.
Her Majesty's Government had forfeited—and forfeited de-
servedly, the confidence of the agricultural interests. They
obtained power by making the agricultural interests believe
that they were their best friends. They had the confidence of
those who sat behind them, and his firm conviction was, that
if another dissolution of Parliament should take place they
might rest assured that instead )f a majority of ninety, they
would be ins minority of two nineties.
Mr, P. BORTHWICK said, that the Hon. Member for
Knareaborough had risen to answer a question put by the
Hon. Member for Montrose, but he had not done 3,1 in the
manner the lion. Gentleman had expected.—( Hear. hear. )
They could all affirm the proposition of the Hon. Member for
Somersetahire ; but what, under Heaven, did his proposition
amount to? They all were agreed that the interests of all
classes ought to be r ghtly considered. He trusted that the
agricultural section of the Howe would set up some real and
not abstract principle. He had heard from those (the Tory)
benches that restrictions in trade were owing to the Whig
Lord —(Laughter)—and the aristocracy of England—
(Laughter)—and he had heard from the opposite benches
that the truest and the best friends were the free-traders. But
the Hon. Member for Somersetshire had put a proposition
which might be equally coincided in by the Han. Member
himself, and by the lion. Member for Stockport. Why if
they carried the resolution it only affirmed that the House
thought the agricultural interests deserving of consideration.
Whatever intention the Hon. Member had in bringing for-
ward the subject, the result was, that it served only to mystify
and delude the farmers of England. The free-traders called
themselves the farmers' friends, the Hon. Member for Somer-
setshire, called himself the farmers' friend, and the Government
called themselves the farmers' friends, and among them the far-
mer were suffering most intensely from the proceedings of their
friends.—( Laughter. )
Lord JOHN RUSSELL would not trouble the House at
all at this time, but as the Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Miles) had
put off to Monday next the motion of which he had given
notice for to-night, he thought the Hon. Gentleman ought to
let the House know what were the particular taxes
which he would promise to be remitted.—( Hear.) As
he was on his legs he would take the opportunity of