The Atherstone Times. — 1879-08-16 (Atherstone, Warwickshire, England)

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—SATunusy  The Home Secretary, replying to Mr. Callan, could not conceive that the jury in the Derby murder case came to a decision by tossing, and he was pleased to see that a contradicti ,n of the statement had been given by one of the jurors. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, in answer to Mr. Burt, said it had not been through any want of sympathy with the agricultural labourers, or any neglect to consider the point, that the Government had failed to put a representative of the labourers on the Royal Commission to enquire into the causes of the depressed state of agriculture. Ho doubted whether Mr. Arch would have given satisfaction to the class generally. Calonel Stanley in reply to Mr. Burt, said the bodies of the troopers who fell with Prince Louis Napoleon were found at the same time as that of the Prince, and he presumed they were buried. They belonged to the Colonial force. As to any monument to them in Westminster Abbey, that was a matter with which the Government could not interfere. The appropriation bill was brought up by Sir H. S. Ibbetson, and was read a first time. The second reading will be taken to day. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, in moving the second reading of the Public Works Loans Bill, entered into an explanation of the views of the Government with respect to the system of advances for public works. He acknowledged the public spirit of the Public, Works Loan Commissioners, who discharrd this daty gratuitously, and pointed out that during the last few years the advances to municipal bodies having increased at the rate of between six and seven millions a year, it had become imperatively necessary to take some steps to restrain it. The money for which these advances were made was borrowed by the Commissioners at 31 per ceet., and lent nut at 31 per ceut. ; but this margin was not sufficient to itover the expenses of administration. Since 1792 the aggregate sum which had been advanced for local purposes was £85,633,C00, and the sum repaid, supposing that the whole was recoverable would be 4:,59,90a,000 He had given the best consideration that he could to the subject, and, after consulting with the Corn. missioners and the highest authorities, it had been. decided to alter the present system, first, by restricting the amount to be borrowed by any one local authority to £lOO,OOO a rise, and to fix the rate of interest according to a sliding scale in pro• portion to the period over whieh the repayment of the advances was to be spraad. He would reserve for next seeston another proposal, originally contemplated, of limiting the repayment by way of annuities ef twenty years. Latins already in progress of negotiation under the old conditions would not be effected by this act. Mr. Chamberlain objected to the bill as a piece of meddling and muddling legislation. He protested against the sate of interest being indiscriminately raised, as unfair to those local bodies who could give unexceptionable security. He did not wish to defeat that portion of the bill which was necessary to enable the Commissioneri p continue their operations, but suggested that the whole or a portion of it should be :reserved for a full discussion next year. Ile would therefore, move the rejection of the bill, as a protest against a scheme which would have the effect of retarding loaal improvements and increasing the burdens of the ratepayers. Mr. Rylands seconded Vie amendment, and suggested that the bill should be referred to a Select Committee next session. Mr. Hankey said it was no part of the function of the Government to borrow money at a loss to 'theist municipal bodies After a lengthy discussion, the Chancellor of the Exchequer declined to withdraw the clauses, but was willing to consider them in Committee. The amendment was withdrawn, and the bill was read a second time. The House was counted out at 6.25.