Star.
London, England, 1831-07-08 00:00:00

DEAD.

Rain:, J. - Newport, Causal
Yorke, Sir Joseph - Reigate
O'Comsos Dos - Roscommon.
DOUBLE RETURNS.
Lord John Russell —Tavistoch and Devon
Major Weyland—Weymouth and Oson
Tennyson, Charles-.Bletchingley and Stamford
Lushington, Doctor—WineMsat and Debater
Jeffrey, Right Honourable F.—Malttan and Perth Burghs
Milton, Lord—Hihgam Ferrara and Northampton (Count.
Shell, R. L—blilborne Port and Louth (County.)
Denison, J. R.—Liverpool and Nottingham (County.)
(No return for Carmarthen.)
ABSTRACT.
There voted on the Second Reading of the Reform
6th July, 1631,
For the reading 367
Tellers
Paired

Agairui 232
Tellers
Paired
Total
These were absent

Double Returns
No Return
Dead

Spaka

Total In the House .... 658

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS—Juiv 7.
The Earl of H AREWOOD presented a Petition from
Leeds, in Yorkshire, caning their Lordships' attention to the
distress in Ireland.
Lord SEEL NIERSDALE presented petitions from the
Millers in Liverpool, WarrinAton, Rochdale, and Chester,
complaining of the rat quantity of foreign flour imported.
Lord CALTHO PE pre clued a petition from a pariah
In Suffolk, against the truck system.
Earl GOWER ire crated petitions to the same effect from
aourestersbire and Doe et.
Tne Arelitishop of CANTERBURY pos•po led the
further eou.idasion of the Tithes B 11 to Monday the 22d
instant.
On tiv m don of Lord WYNFORD, tl:e Suits In
Common Law Courts' Bill wee read a third time, and
passed.

THE TRUCK ITIITZ)L
Lord %VH ARNCLIFFR, in moving the second reading
of the payment of wages in goods repeal bill, and the pay-
ment in wages in money bill. begged to lay before the
house the grounds upon which he deemed those bills nem-
wiry. He thought the , unless the Legislature interfered,
the whole of the manufaztures of the country would he car.
tied on on the truck principle. which had a most pernictoui
tendency • in fact, it was a barter of labour for gocds. He
considered that the universal mode of paying wages in goods,
could not ul imattly be conducive to the benefit of the ma-
nufacturer, no more than to the workman. The principle
of paying wages in goods came into practice at au early
period, and the laws hitherto passed•to suppress the system
have been evaded. The practice arose from a variety of
causes, and now arrived to an extent that required the
prompt interference of the Legislature to put a stop to ir. It
first commenced in Wales, where it was difficult to obtain
goods, and a shop was kept by the manufacturer fur the ac•
commodation of the workmen, and since that time, it had
grown into a source of profit to the manufacturer and extor-
tion upon the working classes. He should not conceal from
their Lordships that he believed that one of the causes of
the prevalence of the system, was the return to cash pay.
:swots. The custom was to make a considerable pn,fit on
the wages, the workmen being paid in goods, and ree, ived
for one shilling what only cost nine pence. Some ntat.ufac-
turers employed 4,000 or 5,000 mem, and although the profit
upon each man was small, upon the whole number it was
enormous, and what might be lost upon the manufac•ured
article, was reimbursed in this manner. He had heard
of manufacturers making 14,0001. a. year by this
system. The principle held out such a prospect of pro-
fit to the avaricious manufacturer, that it was impossi.
bie to resist it. This mode f dealing excited the
jealousy of the workmen. Nothing could be more satisfac-
tory than to see the workman independent of his master, and
enabled to go and purchase the necessaries hi may require in
any shop he pleased. Sometimes the unfortunate workman
was obliged, under the system, to take more goods than he
required, and sell them at a reduced price. The character of
the workman and the manufacturer was destroyed by such
a system. The retail trader was ultimately ruined shue
the manufacturer adopted such a mode of paying wages. if
the truck system could be fairly and honestly carried on,
there might be no objection to it, but it was impossible ; it
held out too many advantages to the avaricious manufac-
turer. As to the principles of political economy, nothing
could be more uncertain, there were so many opinions
upon that subject; but there could be no erring, if the work.
men were paid in the current coin of the realm. Under the
present system the workmen were not free agents, and were
so entangled with the masters that he had no choice. The
first bill would repeal all laws affecting the principle; and
the second bill provided that the workmen should be paid
in the curtest coin of the realm. He proposed that the
master should be subject to a penalty for the violation of the
Act ; for the first offence a fine of 61, for the second, a fine
bet exceeding 201. and not less than 101. and the third of-
fence to be deemed a misdemeanor. Ile moved the second
reading of the bills.
The Bishop of ROCHESTER said that be would give
the noble lord any assistance in his power to promote the
objects of the bill, but he was afraid that no law would put
down the truck system. He thought that, unless more ex-
tensive employment offered for the people, that the workmen
would remain under the control of the manufacturer and the
system.
Lord SKELMERSDALE said that he would support
the bill.
Lord AUCKLAND said that his opinion was entirely in
favour of the bill, and he would be happy to afford his noble
friend every assistance in passing the bills into a law. He
had received many memorials, signed by thousands, com-
plaining of the frauds and impositions practised under the
truck system. It was universally admitted, at the same time,
• that in some districts it was productive of great good. He
was afraid that there were some clauses objectionable• par-
ticularly those which pve magistrates a concurrent juris.
diction, and he wished to know if it would give the magic.
trans in Middlesex a jurisdiction in cases that originated in
London ?
Lord WHARNCLIFFR said, that in the Cornniittee he
should be happy to attend to any suggestions.
The Earl of CA RNA RYON would not give any active
opposition to the Bill, but deprecated those changes, without
going into an inquiry into the causes of the evils com-
p'alatd of.
Lord OODERICH said, that it was absolutely necessary,
for the well-being of thousands, that some measure should
be adoptemd tow eta the track system. The law, as it
Mood at a, pered
Earl GAWKS enweesal his istisfaeCoa at the intralua
dee of the measure, which he wee sate would bye, a beue.
'dal east. • '
Lord CA LTHORPE recomosoded ea. iagaley into the
causes before the Bill naive& Ike maim of the flsuse
and that the subject shealthe ealasillea to a Select Cara.
whim He suggested that tit all olden of the house

be re..o vela le to Eris connoted with tr.t.le. previous to
their htint, seed n second time. The standing order was
had accordingly.
Lord WH ARNCLT FF F. contended that the standing or.
der referred to arcs rot applicable to the bill which he pro.
poet'
A r If se wordy Awn Lord CALTHORPI.
The 1.011 I) CHANCEL I.OR said he did not consider
that the raneltng Tvrder was applicable to the bill, which he
r.i,tor yeti of.
The tills sore then teed a stand thug, and ordered to be
6...t.rnittvd die day fortnight.

I.ABIIITSERS IX HUSBANDRY.

Earl of WINCH I LSEA pod that t* bill which he
P.p..tta was to afford to the agricultural labourers, and
r.h' It should remain in force two years. He proposed
a rate shoohl be raised during six months in the
)enr. t'or foe relief of the labourer. The present system of
parr tended much to the demoralization of the peasantry.
It was intpossible for the honest labourer to obtain employ-
ment in any parish hut his own. such was the apprehension
that he would, under the present law, gain a settlement, end
beeninc chargeable on the parish. There was no time to be
lost in removing the causes of such disivu throughout the
labouring classes. Tie trusted that their Lordships would
allow the bill to go into a Committee, in which he would
propose some amendments.
MLord W YNFORD said that one of the reasons of the
want of employment was, that the capital of the farmer was
wasted away. When the bill went into a Committe, be
wo ild make various suggestions.
The Marquis of LANSDOWN said that he felt it his
duty to oppose the Bill, which would have the effect of in-
troducing a new rate of taxation in addition to the prestnt
poor rates. He also objected to the 11111, because it was
calculated to induce the farmers to employ the worst bar, dr,
for' if they employed under the Bill, a certain nun.ber of
labottrers, they would not be liable to the proposed rate.
Ile did not deny that such arrangements might be catered
into in parishes with advanta,te, but disapproved of env le-
gislative enactment on the subject. He wag not unwilling
to create a fund for the support of the unemployed labour rs,
but he did not consider the proposed bill would answer such
a purpose. He trusted that Parliament would not separate
without, under the advice of his Maj: sty's Government,
eev'sing some m ans by which laar s mght be advanced t
carry on public works in sonic diatticts. He could not give
the measure his support.
The FArl of WINCHILSEA said that he believed the
hill would afford considerable relief, a:-.d trusted it would b:
111!owed to go into a Committee.
After some further remarks from the Marquis of Lans-
down,
The Bishop of LONDON said that he considered the
bill woald have a pernicious tendency ; besides, it was of a
compulsory nature, and he felt satisfied that she practical
effect of the measure a ould be injurious. He recommended
a revision of the poor laws, as most likely to improve the
c.,ntlition of the labourers.

The .Marquis of SALISBURY hoped the bill would be
suffered to go thtotTh the second reading, with the intention
of remodelling it in the Committee.
The Duke of RICH NIOND could not give his sanction
to the principle of the bill, by allowing it to be read a second
time. He hoped his noble friend would consent to with-
draw the bill ; if he did not, he (the Duke of Richmond)
should feel it his duty to move that it be read this day six
months.

Lord ELLE NBOROUGH said that he would support
the bill, and from the knowledge his noble friend (Winchil.
sea) had of the condition of the poor, be thought the bill
worthy their lordships' further consideration.
Viscount MELBOURNE was opposed to the second
r,:tding of the bill, as that would be giving their lordships'
sanction to the principle of the measure. It was an Infringe-
ment on the right of property, and an intefcrence with
private individuals in the management of their private
concur.

The Duke of WELLINGTON said that the system
rropor:ti w be adopted by the noble lord teas a system ac•
tually in operation in n:any places. He thought it advisable
to allow the bill to be re4d a second time.

Earl GREY said that, as the bill was admitted to be
vicious and !objectionable by both sides of the house, he
could not delude the country, by allowing it to go to a corn-
mime, when the bill was incapable of being so modified as
to meet the e lii complained of. It would be inconsistent
with the duty which their lordships owed to themselves, to
allow the second reading of the bill. He felt compelled to
give his vote against the progress of any further discussion
on the bill,
: After a few remarks from the Earl of CARNARVON,
who recommended the noble lord to withdraw the bill,
The Earl of WI NCHILSEA said that he would with-
draw the bill, and leave the consideration of the question to
his Majesty's ministers. The bill was accordingly with-
diaan, after a few remarks from the Dukeof RICHMOND.
LORD LIEUTENANT'S (IRELAND
ci BILL.
Viscount 31 E LBOUR NE moved the or er of the day for
the house going into committee on this Bill.
Lord CARBERItY inquired what the qualifications for
Irish Magistrates were to be under the new system /
Lord PLUNKETT replied, that in due time these qua-
lifications would be made known.

After some remarks from Earl WICKLOW,
The Marquis of LONDONDERRY complained, that
Ministers appeared to be in too great haste with the pre-
sent Bill.

Viscount MELBOURNE answercd that there was no
wish, on the part of his Majesty's ministers, to hasten the
measure through the house, although tlity wished strongly
to assimilate the Lieutenancy of Irish counties to those of
England.
The Duke of WELLINGTON raid he should support
the nom ure.

Earl GREY thanked the ncble duke for his manly and
independent support. As respected the qualifications of the
Magistracy, residence should be considered as one of the
moat important.
After a few words from Lord WICKLOW and Lord
PLUNKETT, the Report was ordered to be received on
Monday.
Adjourned at Num o'Clock.

FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

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