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

IMPROVEMENT OR BRITISH INDIA.

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

1. That it be regarded as the imperative duty of
_the
Governmens 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 experiment,. the Go-
vernment should not be permitted to become caltivatorer
manufacturers, or traders.

3. That in conducting their financial operations, the
Government should be forbidden tobecome purchasers of
any kind of produce on their own account, or to receive by
hypothecation produce purchased by, anrother party.
4. That the' Government be compelled to. expend a
portion of the revenues collected in India in the develop-
ment of the resources of the cauntrr, 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 valuable raw materials, as
also to encourage a system of general industry.
5. That ten per cent. of the revenues of India be ar
plied to the public, works above alluded to.-
6. That the application of the portion of revenue
allotted to useful public works be under the control of 0,
" 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 ire'
perial Government and the Indian executive.
7. That the Government should give every facility for
the permanent occupation of land, by removing. the ob-
jections so often urged to a fluctuating land-tax, by en'
couraging the purchase, for cultivation, of the waste and
i
other lands of India, and by giving: such certainty
tenure as will ensure the 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 justie.,-....a 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. I`.- Beaky, Presi-
dent of the Chamber of Commerce, Mr: Turner,
President of the Commercial Assoeiation, Bright,
M.P., H. Ashworth; and other gentlemen. It wag
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 LIVERPOOL AND
BIRKENHEAD rtocK,s.

At the meeting of the Dock Committee on Thursday.
Mr. C. TURNER. M.P., presided. In reg rd to an
invitation from the Town Council to consider the subject
of establishing a superannuation fund, a long and
interesting discussion took place. AA resolution to the
effect that no superannuation fund. was called for, was
carried by a majority of .10 to 6.

The CHAIRMAN said that was all the general business;
but he had a subjeet to mention, a matter of importance,
before the reporters retired. During. his stay in London,
he had had several conversations with Sir Joseph Bailey io,
reference to the dock estate, and, during those conver-
sations, a strong opinion was elicited that the 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 be 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. Turner's) opinion
individually ; and,. as he had nothing to disguise, lie 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 msnagerneet. And he thought,
if the committee• agreed with him, that Sir Joseph
Bailey's recommendation shouldbe adopted. and that
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 could 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 CHAMINIAN said he had met Sir Josenh 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. BARIIER.—You think that Sir Joseph Bailey auf-
ficiently represents the dock interests at Birkenhead to
open the door to negotiation ?
The CnAihmAN.—He stated that he could commit'
nobody,,but his candid opinion was that, if a committee
were appointed, terms might become to.
Mr. GLADSTONE.---What is the state of the girl/en;
head dock affairs. Is this application in forma pauPeris •
The CHAIRMAN did not think that. They had a _con-
tract with Mr. Brassey to finish certain works ; and they
wassaw finished,
ir
lewdaT of
way, or stated
further
money to proceed with
they did so, after the contract
the works ; but they thought it desirable, also, that the
whole of those works should be under one maliegernentr•
and not in rivalry.

OF
Mr. EVANS.—What does "one management mean .
Let us understand it. Is it that we are to pure.hase them?-
The CHAlRMAN.—Certainly.
Mr. EVANS.—Then what is the use of, going routta
about it ?

The CHAIRMAN.--I am not.
Mr. EVANS.—I 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 8P
pointing a committee to make any offer; 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 V 193
chairman of the Birkenhead Dock Warehouse. Compan3'.
He was a most active man, and most deeply interested.
He had an enormous stake.
Mr. BARRER asked ias was understood) if Baron Gola-
stnidt 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 be
would name a committee of three, to meet three to be ar
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 perils"
mentary sub-committee, the third.
Mr. STEELE, thought their interviews would be of little
avail unless they had Baron Goldsmidt with them as wellA.
Otherwise a negotiation with Sir Joseph Bailey we'll&
have little effect, because they were diametrically 0pP,,n5,..e„,r
The CHAIRMAN said—No, they were not now.
had become reconciled.
Mr. EvANs.—Are they prepared to take Is. in the
pound (laughter)?
THE CHAIRMAN..--I cannot say anything about it.
Mr. LANGSDALE.---It is quite irrelevant to the subs
Mr. EVANS—WeII, you have as much a bargain to ma"
as them.
After some further conversation, the three gentlemeell
named by the chairman was appointed ; but it was agre,
that no official record of the proceeding should be tr,“l„._
—Mr. Rankin protesting against it on the ground Pr_":
after the manner in which the last negotiations had b I '
broken, it was for the Birkenhead proprietors to oui&
offer. This cloud the public bAsinesa.