The Sun.
London, England, 1845-07-23 00:00:00

SMOKE PROHIBITION BILL.

On the motion that the report on this Bill be brought up,
Mr. WARD expressed his decided opposition to the Bill,
and moved that it be read this day four months.
Mr. MACKINNON expressed his surprise at the opposition
of the Hon. Member for Lambeth (Mr. Hawes) who had been
a member of the first Committee that ever sat on this subject;
but he hoped that the opposition would cease, as he had taken
the Bill up at the earnest desire of several persons in Lan-
cashire and the other manufacturing counties ; and ho trusted,
therefore, that the Bill would be allowed to pass.
Sir CHARLES LEMON said that his steam-engines stood
either upon the top of a mountain, or on a bleak woor, or some-
where where it could not possibly affect anybody. Ho should,
therefore, move that the clause of which ho had given notice
should be introduced into the Bill.

The, SPEAKER said that this proposition could not be
entertained until it was decided whether the report should be
received or not.

Mr. E. B. DENISON said that he had received several ap-
plications from Yorkshire to oppose the expenses of the Com-
missioners under this Bill being saddled on the county rates,
and he should decidedly oppose any Bill which was to be worked
at the expense of the agriculturists for the benefit of the towns.
Mr. HAWES opposed the Bill on the ground that it was a
different Bill to that to which he had been a party.
Mr. VILLIERS supported the Bill, and stated that this re-
port was founded on the evidence which had been submitted to
the Committee when the Hon. Member was present.
Mr. HAWES explained that he had been only one day in
the Committee, and had stated to the Chairman his inability to
be there more.

Sir W. CLAY opposed the Bill on the ground that it was
impossible to adopt any apparatus for the consumption of smoke
in soap and sugar manufactories.

Mr: MUNTZ said that he was in the habit of using 200 or
300 horse power in driving machinery. At one time he would
be using bo horse power, and ten minutes afterwards 150 horse
power, and he did not think that any business required greater
variety than his, and he would not be selfish ; he should not
oppose the Bill, but he trusted they would all be served alike.
Mr. WILLIAMS said that those ironmasters who had tried
to put in evidence in opposition to the Bill had most signally
failed in their object.

Mr. ESCOTT said that everybody opposed the Bill who had
any personal interest to serve.
After some further discussion, in which Mr. PROTHEROE
and Mr. ADAMS joined,
Mr. WAKLEY said that the subject was one of such im-
portance that it ought to be takes up by the Government.
tie should advise his friend, the Member for Lymington, to
withdraw the Bill and leave it to the Government, after the
report of the Committee to take upon themselves the responsi-
bility of introducing a measure in the next session, as no
independent Member was strong enough to carry such a
measure.

Mr. G. DUNCAN did not think the measure would answer
the purposes for which it was intended. He agreed with the
Hon. Member for Finsbury that the Bill should be with-
drawn, and the responsibility thrown on the Government.
Mr. MACKINNON then moved that the report be
brought up.
Mr. WARD withdrew his amendment on the understanding
that Sheffield seould be exempted.
Sir C. LEMON then moved for Mr. Godson, that the fol-
lowing clause be added to the Bill :—" Provided that nothing
contained in this Act shall extend, or be construed to extend,
to any steam or fire-engines used or employed in or about any
mines, collieries, iron works, coke works,glass works, or pottery
works, or for the purposes of winning and working, making,
burning, calcining, or manufacturing of iron, lime, coke, iron-
stone, and glass respectively, anything herein contained to the
contrary notwithstanding."
Mr. HA WES said that there seemed nothing to be done now
but to move exemptions to this foolish Bill. He begged to
give notice that it was his intention to take the sense of the

House on every exemption. He should move that Ireland be
exempted, that Scotland should be exempted ; and, on the this d
reading, he should move that England be exempted.
Sir C. LEMON said that the clause was placed on a diffe-
rent footing to any others, and he trusted, therefore, it would
be adopted by the House.
Mr. B. DENISON objected to the clause.
After some further discussion the House divided, when
there appeared—
For the clause

Against it
Majority against the clause ... —23
On our admission to the gallery we found
Mr. MACKINNON moving that iron-works, copper-works,
&c., should be exempted from the operation of the Bill.
Mr. HAWES said that the House had already decided it
would not entertain such a clause.

Mr. WAKLEY would put it to the Hon. Gentleman whether
he could carry such a Bill as the present during this session?
Mr. WILLIAMS said the Hon. Member had done all he
could to abolish this measure, and he (Mr. Williams) con-
sidered that he had been extremely ill used ; if it was his
case, he would give up the Bill altogether.
Mr. MACKINNON withdrew the clause.
Mr. WAKLEY than moved that the first dame should be
omitted.
Mr. B. DENISON seconded the motion.

Sir J. GRAHAM trusted the Hon. Member for Lymington
would not persevere with the Bill.

!Ir. iiIIiCKINNON was determined to press the Bill to a.
divisien.

Lord J. RUSSELL could not support the Bill further ; he
thought, however, that inquiries might be made during the
recess, which would lay the foundation for the introduction of
an effective Bill during the next session.
Sir JAMES GRAHAM said that his Noble Friend at the
head of the Woods and Forests was about to lay on the table
of the House a Bill for the health of large towns, in which the
subject they were now discussing would form part. If, there-
fore, the Hon. Member would withdraw the Bill for the present
session, he, on the part of the Government, would undertake
that scientific inquiry should be made on the subject.—( Hear.)
After some further discussion,
Mr. MACKINNON then withdrew the Bill, upon the
understanding that the Government would issue a commission
on the subject, and if it should report in favour of the measure,
•hat the Government would introduce a Bill next session.
REAL PROPERTY BILL.

This Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed.
DARBY COURT BILL.
This Bill was read a third time and passed.
STAMP DUTIES BILL.
This Bill was read a third time and passed.
MILITIA PAY BILL.
This Bill was read a third time and passed.
SMALL DEBTS BILL.
On the motion of Sir J. GRAHAM, the House went into
Committee on the Small Debts Bill (No. 3).
The different clauses, with a few verbal amendments, were
agreed to, as were also the schedules, and the report was
ordered to be received to-morrow at twelve o'clock.
ESTATE BILLS.
Mr. GREENE moved that all estate Bills brought from
the Lords be allowed, during the present session, to be read a
second time on giving one clear day's notice after the report
from the Committee on petitions for private Bills shall have
reported either that the standing orders have been complied
with, or that no standing orders apply to such Bills ; and that
the Committees on all such Bills be allowed to sit, on giving
one clear day's notice.—Ordered.
DUDDESTON AND NECHELLS IMPROVEMENT