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Motion agreed to; Bill read 2a accordingly, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Thursday next. Then

EMPLOYERS AND WORKMEN BILL read 2 (according to order), and committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Thursday next.

ALIENS AND

NATURALIZATION BILL

amend the Acts relating to Aliens and Natural[H.L.] (No. 226.) A Bill to consolidate and ization: Also,

ALKALI WORKS BILL [H.L.] (NO. 227.) A Bill to consolidate and amend the Acts relating to the regulation of Alkali Works:

Also,

employer would not consent to certain | gress in legislation upon the subject as terms they proposed. The consequence appeared to give satisfaction to the great was that the iron got cold; and as it body of the working classes. was impossible to melt the iron again unless the furnace was taken down, this had to be done at a cost of £2,000. Their Lordships would see that it was impossible to recover damages of such amounts from the workmen, who had no means of raising such sums. It was said that the 5th clause in the present Bill would give a remedy in such cases, but he doubted this, as it would be very difficult in all cases to prove that the offence had been committed " wilfully, maliciously, and knowingly." Under the 14th clause of the Master and Servant Act a remedy was provided in the Criminal Law. He agreed, however, that that clause ought at once to be repealed-it was an inconvenient and illdrawn clause, and did great injustice to those who came under its operation; and he was also of opinion that Her Majesty's Government had done right in dividing the subject into two classes. From the first he felt the difficulty of dealing with the question of conspiracy, and he was much obliged for the information the noble and learned Lord had just given the House respecting it. With regard to intimidation, the Government had taken the right course. If the Bill should do away with the heart-burnings which had been occasioned in former years among the working classes, and if it should be followed by greatly conciliating the feelings of the employer and the employed, he thought that all classes of the community would have grateful recollections of the measure now brought forward. He suggested, however, that acts committed knowingly should be separated from those committed maliciously and wilfully, and the offenders tried, not by a summary proceeding, but by a jury.

LORD ABERDARE said, that having taken part in former legislation on this subject, he begged permission to say a few words on the measure before their Lordships. The Master and Servant Act was no doubt a great step in advance, and under this Bill the same law would continue to apply in cases similar to the gas case. He was, however, content to take the Bill in its present form, but he did not think that under it the danger of agitation was altogether removed. He recognized in it that pro

CHAIN CABLES AND ANCHORS BILL [H.L.] the Acts for regulating the proving of Chain (No. 228.) A Bill to consolidate and amend

Cables and Anchors: Also,

ISSUE OF WRITS DURING RECESS BILL

[H.L.] (No. 229.) A Bill to consolidate and amend the Acts relating to the issue of Writs during a recess of the House of Commons: Also,

MEETING OF PARLIAMENT BILL [H.L.] (No. 230.) A Bill to consolidate and amend the Acts relating to the summoning and meeting of Parliament: Also,

PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS (OATHS AND COSTS) BILL [H.L.] (NO. 231.) A Bill to consolidate and amend the Acts relating to the administration of Oaths in both Houses of Parliament and the awarding of costs in proceedings upon Private Bills: And also,

PUBLIC SCHOOLS BILL [H.L.] (No. 232.) A Bill to consolidate and amend the Acts relating to certain Public Schools in England: Were severally presented by The LORD CHANCELLOR; read 1a.

House adjourned at half past Nine o'clock, till To-morrow, Eleven o'clock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS,

Monday, 26th July, 1875.

COMMERCIAL TREATIES WITH FRANCE, ITALY, AND AUSTRIA.

QUESTION.

MR. BUTLER - JOHNSTONE asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether he can hold out any confident hope to the House and to the country that the treaties of commerce between this country and France, Italy, and Austria, two of which are shortly shortly about to lapse, will be renewed, and on terms equally favourable to this country as the expiring treaties?

MINUTES.]-RESOLUTION IN COMMITTEE East India, Auditor of Accounts, &c. [Superannuations; Sheriffs Substitute (Scotland) [Salaries]. PUBLIC BILLS-Ordered-First Reading-Ecclesiastical Commission Act Amendment [266]; Restriction on Penal Actions and Redemption of Penalties* [267]; Sanitary Law (Dublin) Amendment* [268]. First Reading--Copyright of Designs* [270]. Select Committee-Registration of Trade Marks* [242], Mr. Hermon disch. MR. BOURKE: Sir, the French Committee Agricultural Holdings (England) treaty expires in June, 1877, if de(re-comm.) [222]—R.P. nounced. The Austrian expires in Committee-Report-Militia Laws Consolidation The and Amendment (re-comm) [202]; Elemen- December, 1876, if denounced. tary Education Provisional Order Confirmation Italian will expire June, 1876, and has (London) [251]; Local Government Board's been denounced. As to France and Provisional Orders Confirmation (Abingdon, Austria, no denunciation has been made. &c) * [253]; Local Government Board's Pro- The time, therefore, has not arrived visional Orders Confirmation (Aberdare, &c.) * [254]; Traffic Regulation (Dublin) [244]; when it is expedient to make any public Justices of the Peace Qualification [151]; announcement upon the subject. As to Legal Practitioners * [46]. Italy, negotiations are going on with re

*

Withdrawn-Offences against the Person Act

*

Amendment [250]; Pollution of Rivers* [252]; Savings Banks, &c. * [198]; Drugging of Animals [235].

*

Report-Public Works Loans [243-269]. * Third Reading-Lunatic Asylums (Ireland)spect to the Treaty, and no efforts shall [189]; Public Records (Ireland) Act, 1867, be wanting on our part to bring them Amendment [233]; Contagious Diseases to a satisfactory conclusion. Many in(Animals) Act, 1869, Amendment * [250], fluential Members on both sides of the and passed. Government are giving the subject House are aware that Her Majesty's serious and anxious consideration, and they are also aware that the views of many commercial bodies in this country have been communicated to my noble Friend at the head of the Foreign Office. I need not say that Her Majesty's Government will continue to use every effort to base our commercial relations with all foreign countries on sound principles.

MERCHANT SHIPPING ACTS AMEND-
MENT (No. 2) BILL AND UNSEA-
WORTHY SHIPS.

MOTION AND NOTICES.

MR. ROEBUCK: I beg to move that the Merchant Shipping Acts Amendment (No. 2) Bill be fixed for second reading on Thursday next.

Motion agreed to.

SIR CHARLES ADDERLEY: I give Notice that on Wednesday next, I will move for leave to introduce a Bill to make provision for giving further powers to the Board of Trade for stopping Unseaworthy Ships.

MR. DILLWYN: To-morrow, at 2 o'clock, I will ask the Prime Minister, if he will give precedence over the other Orders of the Day to the Merchant Shipping Acts Amendment (No. 2) Bill, which has been introduced by the hon. Member for Derby, and which will stand for second reading on Thursday

next.

CIVIL SERVICE (IRELAND)—SALARIES.

QUESTION.

MR. WILLIAM M’ARTHUR asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, If he can state why it is that while clerks connected with several of the Irish Public Offices and other officials belonging to the Irish branch of the Civil Service have been placed on a footing of equality with those in a corresponding position in Eng land, the district inspectors of national schools in Ireland have not been placed in the same position as to salary and allowances with those in England, in accordance with a Resolution of the House of Commons of the 4th July, 1873, recommending the same?

ARMY-YEOMANRY AND VOLUN-
TEERS-PAY OF ADJUTANTS.

QUESTION.

SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH: | writing an intemperate letter to a reSir, in consequence of the Resolution of lieving officer. The letter was addressed the House of Commons in July, 1873, to the Board of Guardians. But his referred to by the hon. Member, a De- offence could hardly be said to be conpartmental Committee was appointed by fined to the writing of that letter. His the late Government to inquire into the conduct had been the subject of numecase of various officials belonging to the rous and repeated complaints on the Irish branch of the Civil Service. In part of the Local Government Inspectors that inquiry the Treasury was repre- during a long series of years; and, upon sented, and also the Departments on reviewing the whole circumstances, I which the inquiry was held, and the could not come to the conclusion that I result has been a very considerable im- should be justified in re-opening the provement in the position of various case. parties employed in the Irish Civil Service. I am quite aware that there are some cases in which parties holding nominally the same position as officers in England have not been placed on precisely the same footing; and Inspectors of Schools are in that class. Although the name of the office is the same in both countries, there is a difference in the position of the officer and his duties; but the position of these Inspectors has been very considerably improved. There were three classes under the old system. The first class had a salary commencing at £450 and rising by £10 yearly to £500. The salary now commences at £500 and rises by £15 per annum to £600 a-year. The second and third classes have had a similar increase; and the position of these classes has also been very much improved as to their allowances for travelling and personal expenses.

POOR LAW-NEWPORT PAGNEL UNION-DISMISSAL OF MR. HAMMETT HAILEY.-QUESTION.

DR. LUSH asked the President of the Local Government Board, Whether the statements of Mr. Hammett Hailey, a medical officer of the Newport Pagnel Union for twenty seven years, in a Petition presented to this House July 7th and printed in the Appendix (No. 526) have received his attention; and, whether the dismisal of Mr. Hailey from his office for the alleged offence of writing an intemperate letter to a relieving officer (subsequently apologized for) will be re-considered by the Board?

MR. SCLATER-BOOTH: Sir, the case of Mr. Hailey has received my most careful attention. I am aware of the Petition presented to the House and the statements contained in it. It is not correct to say that he was dismissed for

COLONEL NORTH asked the Secretary of State for War, If any decision has been arrived at as to the pay of adjutants of Yeomanry and Volunteers?

MR. GATHORNE HARDY, in reply, said, that the Commission on the pay of adjutants of the Yeomanry had completed its Report, although all the Members had not yet signed it. The question of their pay would, therefore, soon be ripe for consideration. As to adjutants of Volunteers, some questions as to certain Brigade Depôt arrangements were still pending, and their case must therefore stand over for some time longer.

CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION-THE

REPORT.-QUESTION.

MR. MONK asked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether he is able to inform the House what are the intentions of Her Majesty's Government as to the adoption of the recommendations of the Civil Service Inquiry Commission?

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER: Sir, the Commissioners have sent in three Reports to the Government and have now completed their labours. I must express our great gratitude to them, and especially to my right hon. Friend the Member for the University of Edinburgh (Mr. Lyon Playfair), for the great pains they have taken. The Reports are very interesting and very suggestive; and they raise questions both of principle and detail, the application of which will require careful consideration. The Government has been making inquiries in particular offices

with a view of seeing how far the prin- | making a difference of 68. 3d. per diem; ciples of the Reports could be applied to and the difference in the ranks of them. We are not at present in a posi- Colonel, Captain, and Lieutenant being tion to give a definite answer, but the 11d., 6d., and 4d. respectively; whether matter is engaging serious consideration, this anomaly did not in fact originate and we hope in the course of the Recess from some clerical mistake, and, if not, to arrive at some conclusion. what reason can be alleged for its existence; and, whether it is anticipated that the Report of the Commission now sitting on Army Promotion will throw any fresh light upon the subject?

POST OFFICE-TELEGRAPHS AND RAILWAY COMPANIES.-QUESTION. MR. MONK asked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether any award has been made in respect of the claims of certain Railway Companies for compensation for the transfer of their telegraphs to the Government; and, also whether the payment of such awards has been provided for in the Vote already taken in Committee of Supply?

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER: Sir, an important award has been given in the case of the arbitration between the Post Office and the Great Eastern Railway. The amount which was claimed by the railway company was £504,000; the amount which was awarded was £77,000; that sum has been provided, but it has not been voted in Supply, nor is it necessary or proper that it should. The money will be taken from the capital authorized to be raised by loan under the Telegraphs Act a few years ago. The powers of that Act are not exhausted, and they are more than sufficient to meet this claim. One or two other claims by railway companies are under consideration, but of course I am unable to say what the awards may be.

MR. HUNT in reply, said, he could not inform the hon. and learned Member whether the Report referred to would throw any fresh light on the subject of what the hon. and learned Member called an anomaly in the pay of the colonels second commandant of Marine Light Infantry. The only way of removing the alleged anomaly would be by the process of "levelling down;" but he did not think that that would meet the view of the hon. and learned Member.

PUBLIC BUSINESS-THE SAVINGS

BANKS BILL.-QUESTION. MR. LYON PLAYFAIR asked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether it is the intention of the Government to proceed with the Savings Banks Bill during the present Session?

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER: Sir, the Savings Banks Bill was introduced with the limited object of stopping a deficiency which had been increasing many years, and which still goes on increasing, in these accounts. There had been some misunderstanding with regard to the nature of the Bill; NAVY-THE MARINE LIGHT INFANTRY discussion it has gone through, and I but I think it was fully removed by the

-PAY OF OFFICERS.-QUESTION. MR. GORST asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, When it is intended to remove the anomaly in the pay of the the Colonels Second Commandant of Marine Light Infantry, whereby those officers receive 58. per diem less than the sum which would be in proportion to the pay of the corresponding rank of Marine Artillery, and of the other ranks of their own corps, the pay of the Colonel Commandant of Artillery being 408. per diem, and of the Light Infantry 38s. 6d. per diem, making a difference of 18. 6d. per diem; of the Colonel Second Commandant of Artillery 268. 3d. per diem, and of Light Infantry 20s. per diem,

The Chancellor of the Exchequer

feel confident if we were to persevere with the discussion, there would be no doubt as to our being able to satisfy the House and the country with regard to character of that proposal. My right hon. Friend has given Notice that he will endeavour to graft on this Bill an important proposal-namely, that we should take into consideration the question of Savings Banks reform. That is so large a question that it would be impossible to deal with it at the end of a Session; it is, therefore, our intention not to proceed with the Bill during the present Session, but to take up the question next Session, and to deal, as is absolutely necessary, with the question

of the deficiency, and also, I hope, with | the larger question raised by the right hon. Gentleman.

PUBLIC BUSINESS-PUBLIC WORKS LOANS BILL LOCAL AUTHORITIES

LOANS BILL.-OBSERVATIONS.

SIR CHARLES ADDERLEY: Sir, the Board of Trade officers have not power to detain any ship. They report to the Board of Trade, and the Customs' officers detain by directions from the Board of Trade. It is proposed to institute a higher class of Board of Trade surveyors at the principal ports; and I hope the Bill which I have given Notice of for Wednesday will give the requisite

powers.

PUBLIC BUSINESS

THE MERCHANT SHIPPING ACTS.-QUESTION. LORD FRANCIS HERVEY asked the President of the Board of Trade, Whether he will next Session, together with a Bill to amend the Merchant Shipping Acts, introduce a Bill to consolidate the same?

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER: I promised to take this opportunity of making a statement as to two other Bills which are under my charge. One is the Public Works Loans Consolidation Bill, which has been referred to a Select Committee. That Committee has concluded its labour; it is important that the Bill should be passed, if possible; and I have great hopes that when it is again brought forward the House will have no difficulty in accepting and passing it this Session. With regard to the Local Authorities Loans Bill, I am SIR CHARLES ADDERLEY: Sir, in this position—it has been very care-I hope the Government Bill to amend fully considered, a great many objections the Merchant Shipping Acts will be that were taken to it have been, as I among the earliest measures of next hope, obviated, and from what reaches Session. I have no intention of attemptme I am inclined to think that the Bill ing a Consolidation Bill at present; but may be accepted without much discus- the House is aware that I have prepared sion. If that should prove to be the and published a Digest of all existing case, I shall be glad to proceed with it. Merchant Shipping Acts, with a very If, however, it is likely to lead to much full and complete Index, which may to a discussion, it would have to be laid aside great extent serve the purpose of a Confor want of time; but I shall keep it on solidation Act. the Paper until I see the feeling of the House with regard to it.

PUBLIC BUSINESS-POLLUTION OF

ARMY-ARTILLERY-HEAVY GUNS.

QUESTION.

RIVERS BILL.-QUESTION. CAPTAIN PRICE asked the Surveyor MR. RIPLEY asked the First Lord General of Ordnance, On what system the of the Treasury, Whether it is the in- 81-ton guns are to be rifled, and what tention of Government to proceed with nature of projectiles are to be used; whethe Pollution of Rivers Bill this Session ?ther he will state to the House the greatMR. DISRAELI: I regret to say, Sir, that I think it would not be possible for us to proceed with this Bill during this Session. The President of the Local Government Board, therefore, will take an early opportunity of moving that the Order be discharged.

MERCANTILE MARINE-DETAINING
UNSEAWORTHY SHIPS.

QUESTION.

MR. EUSTACE SMITH asked the President of the Board of Trade, Whether any officer who considers a vessel overladen has power to detain such vessel pending the receipt of instructions from the Board of Trade?

est and next greatest number of battering charges which have been fired from any 35-ton or 38-ton gun rifled on the Woolwich system, without requiring repairs (including re-venting); whether it is a fact that the process of re-venting cannot be performed on board ships at sea in the presence of an enemy; whether he is aware that although the stock of projectiles on board ship may be replenished at a distant seat of war, guns of 35 tons or 81 tons weight cannot be replaced without sending the ship home; and, whether he can state to the House, that it has been shown by actual experiment or otherwise, that our heaviest guns can stand such a practical test as they might be put to in war time; and,

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