Brighouse & Rastrick Gazette. — 1883-09-01 (Brighouse, West Yorkshire, England)

GENTLE-MRS OF TES HOUSE OF COMMONS,  I thank you for the liberal supplies by which you have enabled me to make adequate provision for the public establishments and other services of the country during the current year. Mr LORDS AND GENTLEMEN,—  The revenue has thus far not fallen short of its anticipated amount; the condition of the classes suffering from the depression of agriculture has, in most districts of the country, shewn some degree of improvement; and the general state of trade and industry is sound.  I can refer with greater satisfaction than on some former occasions to the condition of Ireland. Except in regard to the disposal of Appeals, where there is still much to be desired, the action of the appointed Tribunals has brought into wide operation the provisions of the Land Act; the late combination against the fulfilment of contracts, especially for rent, has been in a great degree broken up; there is a marked diminution of agrarian crirhe ; and associations, having murder for their object, have been checked by the detection and punishment of offenders. The expectations of more successful progress in the work of legislation which! expressed to you at the close of the last session of Parliament, have not been wholly disappointed; and I have cordially given my assent to many measures of public usefulness. The Acts, which secure due compensation to improving occupiers of land in England and Scotland respectively, and comprise other valuable provisions, will, I trust, tend alike to the promotion of confidence between classes, and to the more advantageous prosecution of the great business of agriculture. The new law relating to corrupt practices at elections will not only tend towards extinguishing the grosser forms of mischief, at which it is particularly aimed, but will, by reducing the expenses of Parliamentary elections, give increased freedom of choice to the constituencies, and thus promote the more efficient representation of all classes in the great council of the nation.  The Act for the improvement of the Law of Bankruptcy appears well adapted to fulfil the favourable anticipations with which it has been received by the commercial and trading community; and the Act concerning Patents will be found greatly to improve the position of inventors, in whose ingenuity and resource the public has a substantial Interest.  • • The provision which you have made for further securing a continuous redemption of the National Debt , will materially aid the maintenance of the public credit.  The Act for the encouragement of Irish industry and enterprise by iihprovement of communications, and for the further relief of particular districts by emigration and migration, supplies a new proof of your anxiety to promote the prosperity of Ireland. The remission of Parliamentary labour which you have so amply earned will bring with it the discharge of important duties, both personal and public, in your respective districts. Alike in these, and in the arduous exertions which may be demanded from you in coming sessions, I trust that the favour of Providence may uniformly guide you to promote the object of my constant solicitude —the welfare and happiness of my people.