The Sun.
London, England, 1845-07-31 00:00:00

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LONDON. THURSDAY. JULY 31, 1845.

The Lords did not sit yesterday.
The Commons met at Twelve o'clock.

After the private business had been disposed of,
Mr. FIELDEN, in moving for certain returns con-
nected with the property-tax, took occasion to call the
attention of the House to the arbitrary and unjust man-
ner in which the tax was assessed. He had been rated
at 24,0001. ; after great trouble that was reduced to
12,000/., but still it was too high. He bad offered to
produce his books, and himself and his partners were
ready to make oath that they had not realised such a
sum, but the Commissioners refused to reduce the as-
sessment. The Board could assess at what amount they
pleased, and there was no appeal except to the members
of the Board themselves.

Mr. WILLIAMS thought the country ought to be
obliged to the Honourable Gentleman for having brought
forward the subject.
'Uhe CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER defended the
conduct of the Commissioners, and said there had been a
difference of opinion as to the value of the stock of
cotton.
Mr. FIELDEN explained.

Mr. HAWES thought this was a proper case for inquiry.
He considered it an instance of the flagrant unfairness at
the Property-tax Act.
Mr. BERNAL thought that during the recess the Go-
vernment should seriously consider whether it would be
advisable to continue this unpopular tax.
Mr. IlumE complained that all the Commissioners
were political nominees, their conduct had been disgrace.
ful, and he attributed their treatment of the Hon. Mem-
ber for Oldham to a political grudge.
Sir R. PEEL could not believe that any person holding
the office of Commissioner could be actuated by such un-
worthy motives.
After a few words from Mr. BROTHERTON and Capt.
PECHELL, the motion was agreed to.
On the order of the day being read for going into Com-
mittee of Supply,

Mr. BERNAL called the attention of the Government to
the recent accident on the South-Eastern Railway, and
asked what steps had been taken to prevent the recur-
rence of such accidents for the future ?
Sir G. CLERK said that the Government had dispatched
an officer to make inquiries on the spot, but, as yet, his
report had not been received ; when it was, it would bi
fully considered by the Board of Trade, with a view of
affording better security to the public.
After a few words from Mr. CLIVE and Mr. P.
HOWA RD,

Sir R. PEEL said that the responsibility which attached
to those connected with the management of railways
was, at present, insufficient to insure the
safety of the public. Ile believed that many of these
railway accidents might have been avoided by the adop-
tion of proper precautions, and he thought they bad a
right to demand that railway companies should give
greater securities against the occurrence of accidents
than they had hitherto done.
Mr. HUME was rejoiced to hear that the Government
intended to take up the subject next session.

A long conversation followed as to the manner in
which the business of the House should be conducted, in
the course of which it was suggested by Mr. HumE that
the House should meet ou Wednesdays at twelve, and
sit till half-past six for the disposal of private Bills, and
measures of minor importance, while Mr. C. BULLER
suggested that the next session a Board should be ap.
pointed, to which all private Bills should be referred,
and which should examine evidence and report on the
preamble of the Bills to the House.

Lord PALMERSTON, after having animadverted on the
carelessness of Railway management, proceeded to
draw the attention of the House to the state of the de-
fences of the country. France possessed a large steam
navy, and our steam navy ought to be increased, and
our naval arsenals properly secured, so as to be able to
set at defiance all threats of hostile invasion.
Sir R. PEEL deprecated the introduction of such
topics. We were at present on the most friendly terms
with France, and there was no probability of those
amicable rvlati.,ns being interrupted. He could, how-
ever, assure the Noble Lord, that if the necessity should
arise for this country to enter into hostilities with any
other Power, at no former period of her history was she
better prepared to do so than at present

Sir C. NAPIER complained that our ships-of-war
were under-manned, and our steam-ships were inferior
to those of other nations.

ritte House then resolved itself into Committee of
Stipp tft
Sir H.\,PEEL, in answer to Mr. J. ABEL SMITH, an-
nouncid the intention of the Government, on a future
day, to propose a vote for the sufferers by the fires at
Quebec.
On the vote for pensions to ministers of Dissenting
congregations,
Mr. HINDLEY moved that the amount proposed to
Independent ministers be withdrawn.
Mr. CARDWELL opposed the motion, which was lost
by a majority of 44, the numbers being, for Mr. HIND.
LEY'S motion 8, against it 52.
The vote of 32,2641. for Non-conformist ministers in
Ireland, was opposed by Mr. S. CRAWFORD on account
of its smallness, and by Mr. WILLIAMS and Mr. HIND-
LEY on the ground that no clergy should be paid by the
State. On a division, there appeared for the vote 71,
against it 13; majority for the vote 58.
On the sum of 22,5651. being proposed for the colony
of New Zealand, a long discussion arose, in the course
of which the House was address..d by Mr. ROEBUCK.,
Mr. HUME, Mr. SHELL, Sir R. PEEL, and other Hon.
Member 4;" but ultimately the vote was agreeed to with-
out
a division.

Numerous other votes were agreed to, after which the
House resumed.

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