The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-03-29 00:00:00

IMPROVEMENT OF BRITISH INDIA.

A meeting of the bankers, merchants,• and manufac-
turers of Manchester was held in the Town-hall, on
Tuesday, to consider what suggestions that community
ought to make to Government or to Par:lament for the
better development of the resources of British Lndia, and
the consequent amelioration in the condition of the people.
A petition was adopted, embracing certain suggestions
which the Government were urged to adopt b any enact-
ment for the future Government of India, which they
might introduce. The principal of these suggestions
were :

1. That it be regarded as the imperative duty of the
Government of India to promote the cultivation of the
soil, and to remove all obstacles which impede the progress
of industry.
2. That beyond making useful experiments, -the Go-
vernment should not be permitted to become cultivators,
manufacturers, or traders.

3. That in conducting their financial operations, the
Government should be forbidden to become purchasers of
any kind of produce on their cwn account, or to nceive by
hypothecation produce purchased by any other party,
-I. That the, Government be compelled to expend a
portion of the revenues collected in India in the develop-
ment of the resources of the country, as well as to afford
every facility for its profitable occupation ; .that, with
this view, such public works should be promoted as are
calculated to facilitate intercourse with or improve the
physical condition of the population, to increase-the pro-
duction of cotton and other 'Joinable raw materihls, as
also to encourage a system of general industry.
5. That ten per cent. of the revenues of India he ap-
plied to the public works above alluded to.
G. That the application of the. portion of revenue
allotted to useful public works be under the control of a
" Board of Works," established and conducted in India,
the members of which should have full, extensive, but
defined powers, and be nominated jointly by the im-
perial Government and the Indian executive.
7. That the Government should give every facility for
the permanent occupation of land, -by removing.thu ob-
jections so often urged to a fluctuating land-tax, by en-
couraging the purchase, for cultivation, of-the waste and
other lands of India, and by giving such certainty. of
tenure as will ensure re safe application of capital to the
universal cultivation of the soil.

8. That prompt attention be paid to the removal of
evils now existing in India, consequent upon the uncer-
tainty of the due administration of justice, and the pre-
vailing ignorance of the people.
9. That an annual detailed report on all East-India
affairs should, as was formerly done, be laid. before
Parliament by a Minister of the Crown.
The meeting was addressed by. Mr. T. Baxley, Presi-
dent of the. Chamber of Commerce, Mr. J. A. Turner,
President of the Commercial Association, 3%. Bright,
M.P., H. Ashworth, and other gentlemen. It was
agreed to transmit copies of the petition to the various
commercial ,and manufacturing bodies of the United
Kingdom. .in order that a joint deputation might be
formed to the President of the Board of Control.

UNION OF THE LIVE-RPOOL_IND
BIRKENHEAD. DOCKS-.

At the meeting of the Dock Committee on. Thursday,
Mr. C. TURNER, M.P., presided. In regArd, to an
invitation from the Town Council to consider the subject
of establishing a superannuation fund, a long and
interesting discussion took place. A resolutiorn to the
effect that no superannuation fund was called for,. was
carried by a majority of 10 to 6..
The CILAIRMAN said that was all the gensral'hosinesa
but he had a subject to mention, a matter of-, importance,
before the reporters retired. During his staydn. Loudon,
he had had several conversations with Sir Joseph Bailey in
reference to the dock estate, and, during those conver-
sations, a strong opinion was elicited that tha dock estates
on both sides of the water should be under one manage-
ment. it went to this extent, that Sir Joseph Bailey
expressed his opinion that, it was very desirable a small
sub-committee of that committee should• bo- appointed,
.
to confer with those interested on the other side of the
water, with the view of seeing if any terms could be
arranged. He had asked his (Mr. Tarnees) opinion
ndividually ; and, as ho-bad nothing to disguise, he told
him his opinion was, that,
•if terms could be arranged
satisfactorily, the committee and parties in the town
thought it would be desirable that all dock affairs on the
Mersey should be under.one rxinagemeet. And he thought,
if the committee agreed with him, that Sir Joseph
Bailey's recommendation should be adopted, and that a
small sub-committee should be appointed. Of course the
general committee would not be bound by them, but they
could draw up some arrangement which cc.uld be submitted.
Mr. BARBER asked the chairman if it was a casual con-
versation, or if Sir Joseph Bailey had communicated with
him in an official capacity ?
The CHAIRMAN, said he had met Sir Joseph Bailey
many times, and at one of those meetings, in the lobby
of the House of Commons, he had asked him his opinion
upon the question of the dock estates of the Mersey.
He had seen him several times, and this had always
formed the subject of conversation.
Mr. BARBER.—You think that Sir Joseph Bailey suf-.
ficiently represents the dock interests at Birkenhead to
open the door to negotiation ?.

The CHAIAMAN.—He stated that he could commit,
nobody, but his candid opinion was that, if a committee
were appointed, terms might be come to.
Mr. GLADSTpNE.—What is the state of the Birken..
head dock affairs. Is this application informa pauperise
The CRAIRMAN did not think that. They had a„ con-
tract with Mr. Brassey to finish certain works ; ankl,they
saw their way, or stated they did so, after the contrast
was finished, of raising further honey to proceed with
the works ; but they' thought it desirable, also, that the
whole of those works should be under one marlagement,
and not in rivalry.

Mr. EyANs.—What does " one management mean ?"
Let us understand it. Is it that we are to purchase them?
The CHAIRMELN.—Certainly.
Mr. EvANs..—Then what is the use of, going round
about it ?
The CHATS mAN.—I am not.
Mr. EvANs.—l am not observing it on your part, but
theirs.

The CHAIRMAN thought he might mention this. He
had said to Sir Joseph Bailey that it was of no use ap-
pointing a committee to make any offez; and, if any offer
were made, it should be laid before the general committee.,
In answer to Mr. Brocklebank,
The CHAIRMAN stated that Sir Joseph Bailey was
chairman of the Birkenhead Dock Warehouse Company.
He was a most active man, and most deeply interested.
He had an enormous stake.

Mr. BARBER asked (as was understood) if Baron Gold-
smidt was not the principal party to be consulted ?
The CHAIRMAN said yes, he had a large stake ; but
the only point to be considered was the appointment of e
committee to talk the matter over.

Mr. SHAND would name Mr. Gladstone as one of the
committee.
The CHAIRMAN stated that Sir Joseph Bailey had said he
would name a committee of three, to meet three to be ap-
pointed by the committee, to talk the matter over freely.
He (Mr. Turner) should propose himself one. Mr. Glad-
stone another, and Mr. Bold, as chairman of the parlia-
mentary sub-committee, the third.
Mr. STEELE thought their interviews, would be of little
avail unless they had Baron Goldsmidt with them as well.
Otherwise a negotiation with Sir Joseph Bailey would
have little effect, because they were diametrically opposed*
The CHAIRMAN said—No, they were not now. They
had become reconciled.
Mr. EVANS.—Are they prepared to take 43. in the
pound (laughter) ?
THE CHAIRMAN.—I cannot say anything about it.
Mr. LANGSDALE.—It is quite irrelevant to, the subject.
Mr. EVANS—WeII, you have as much a bargain to make
as them.
After some further conversation, the three gentlemen
named by the chairman was appointed ; but it was agrefa
that no official record of the proceeding should be made,
—Mr. Rankin protesting against it on the ground thar,
'
after the manner in which the last negotiations kad been
broken, it was for the Birkenhead proprietors to, wake an
offer. This closed the public business.