Evening star., 1893-11-02
Opening Of Parliament With the
Usual Ceremonies.
fHF PUBLIC GENERALLY INDIFFERENT.
Second Reading Of the Parish
Councils Bill.
HOME RULE IN EN- NGLAND.

LONDON, Nov. 2-The opening OF parlia-
ment today attracted little attention. All
the customary formalities were complied
with, though few members were present at
the time fixed for the opening of the house.
There was no rush for seats. The lobbies
were virtually empty until the afternoon.
The speaker, the Right Honorable Arthur
Wellesley Peel, took the chair at O'Clock
and the house at once settled down to bus
mess
Questions were asked the government in
regard to Col. Darlington and his mission
to Mashonaland.
Mr.. Sydney Buxton, secretary of the
colonial office. in reply stated that Col.
Darlington had been sent to South Africa
In purely military capacity. He would not
be concerned at all in political matters.
The Right Honorable Henry Fowler, pres
fdent Of the local government board. then
moved the second reading Of the Parish
Councils Bin'
This bill proposes to form IN rural par
isneS having population of 300 and up
ward a council. to be annually elected by
ballot by men and women having the
right to vote for members of the county
council These parish councils are to con-
sist OF not less than five nor more than
fifteen names. They are to take over all
existing powers Of the vestries. excepting
charities. and they are to have control of
rarish property, land allotments, roads,
water supply, local watching and lighting
and sanitation generally. and they are 20
Of land under the sanction of the local gov
ernment- board In urban districts as
well as rural districts the bill abolishes
electoral qualifications on the ground of
The administration Of the Door law IS to
remain under the jurisdiction of boards Of
suarolans, as IL Is now, but the boards are
10 De elected under the new franchise
IN making the motion Mr.. Fowler said
that the bill dealt with 13 900 rural parishes
or which number 5000 had populations of
under 900. As no council would be consti-
tuted where the population is under 3Do
theSe would require to be grouped This
matter formed one OF the difficulties with
Wnicn the House must grapple
Inc government attached no magic to
the 3OO limit 1t rather desired to give the
councils the greatest elasticity in the mat
Ter OF grouping. 1t would empower county
councils 10 give parish council to any
parish. whatever its size might be. If the
parish Itself consented.
An important question was what effect
the bill would have on the Church of Eng
land The conservatives said that it would
bring about the spoliation Of the church;
that II would disendow charities and oust
the church from control of the schools
Certainly the bill transferred from the
church wardens the control of purely par
to be transferred.
This statement was greeted with cheers
by the government supporters.
Continuing. Mr.. Fowler said that neither
church schools nor purely ecclesiastical
charities would be affected. Regarding the
public element of the schools, Mr.. Fowler
said the parish councils would have no con-
troll
MIR. Walter Long progressive conserva-
tive), member for the West Derby division
Of Liverpool. congratulated the house on
the fact that the bill was not likely to
lead TO a bitter party controversy, but
some amendment to the measure, he said
was absolutely necessary. The powers
given to the parish councils for the COM
pulsory purchase of land were too great.
These powers must be curtailed.
The areas which would be allowed a.
council must be enlarged. as the 300 popu-
lation limit was too small. The county
councils. he added. should retain control of
the poor law administration and sanitary
matters