On this page
- Departments (2)
-
Text (5)
-
THE, NORTHERN STAR. v April 25, 1846.
-
imperial parliament
-
11010USE OF GOMMONS-Moxdat, April 20. ff...
-
¦ - ¦ ¦¦¦<¦ Printed bvl)OLG:U.Xl'GOV AX, ofK Great Wiml ill street, Uaymarket, in the City of Wostmiiistpr, - »ttha
-
I'tlirc, in t)u> fame Stiver mid Vnnsn, ...
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
-
-
Transcript
-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
The, Northern Star. V April 25, 1846.
THE , NORTHERN STAR . v April 25 , 1846 .
Imperial Parliament
imperial parliament
11010use Of Gommons-Moxdat, April 20. Ff...
11010 USE OF GOMMONS-Moxdat , April 20 . ffheThe Speaker took the chair at four o ' clock , but are ire not being forty members present , the house iioodood adjourned . B HOUSE OF LORDS—Tuesday , April 21 . LLorUrd BaotGHUi presented a petition against the aariiaritable Trusts Bill , but stated that he did not nncuncur in its prayer . The petitioners seemed to be unarmed at the idea of the bill passing . He thought , -we-wever , that there need be no alarm at that or any bherher bill passing which their lordships might agree .. ' . They sent them down , lie hardly knew where , rrtlr there seemed an utter incapacity to do business
an another place . ( Laughter . ) Their lordships aw teireir business , but elsewhere they seemed never to iinlink of it . ( Renewed laughter . ) 'TITheEarl of Dalhousie moved the postponement ot 11 pi proceedings on railway bills till ihe 27 th instant , lid ? d gave notice that he should call the attention ot tie le honse on Thursday next to a separate order , apiieaieable to the bills so postponed . "HThe motion was put and agreed to , Ti The same noble lord then laid on the table the evi-?? ncnee take before the Gauge Commissioners , and the mrause adjourned . IHdOUSE OF COMMONS-Tbesdat , April 21 . ' TIThe Speaker took the chair at four o ' clock .
NEW . MEMBERS . Lt Lord Milton and Mr . Rich took their seats as mein-!> rs > rs for Malton and Richmond . A A considerable portion of the early sitting was ocnpiipled with questions on various subjects , and the nsv-swers thereto , on the parte ! themmisters . Among neaese was the following : —
" "PROTECTION OF LIFE" IN ENGLAND . H Mr . C . Powell wished to put a question . He had !* cenin a Sheffield paper an account of the constructor on of an infernal machine , intended to intimidate neie master-manufacturers , which the paper in question described as causing the peaceable inhabitants If tf the town the greatest consternation aud terror . Ilele should be dad to ask whether , if such a statement were well-founded , her Majesty ' s government , - h-hich always did equal justice to England and to Ireitntnd , would not introduce " a bill for the better proiKjetion of life in that part of the United Kingdom
iilalled Ens-land . " ( Hear , hear , and laughter . ) £ Sir J . Gilmiam said he had received no account of liede circumstance to which the lion , member had ill-Uuded . One of the Hon . members for Sheffield had iisistentered thenouse , and perhaps the question had [ - tetter b « put to Mm . 1 Mr . C . Powbll . —Then I understand the governleient refused to wiswer the j-econd part of the question : thev will only " protect life" in Ireland . ] Lord Gf . Beshsck comp lained of a false return as > j Memel and Canada timber—and Mr . C . Buller if f delays in the presentations ef returns which were ordered bv the house .
i Sir R . Peel threw the blame of the one on the Iriustom House authorities , and Sir J . Graham on the remissness of Irish officials .
POOR LAW COMMISSION . Public business was commenced by Mr . Christie , who moved for copies of all coreespondenee , between W . Day , Esq ., late Assistant-Jdommissioner of Poor Laws , and the Poor Law Comnnissioners and the Secretary for the Home Departonent , relative to his involuntary resignation , of his Assistant Poor Law Commissionership , and of all ouinutes relative to Mr . Day ' s resignation , and to the . j-ppointment of Colonel Wade as his successor . He rounded his motion upon the conduct of the Poor ^ aw Commissioners towards Mr . Day , who had leeen appointed an Assistant Poor Law Conimisiioner in 1835 , and had discharged the duties iif his office for eight years with great credit to
i & nself and satisfaction to his superiors , fn August , 1843 , Mr . Day whilst exercising his functions m South Wales , had the misfortune to break his eeg , and was laid up for five weeks by that accident . He had almost forgotten its occurrence , when , in January , 18 At , he received a letter from » ne of the Poor Law Commissioners , regretting that ihe state of his bodily health would not allow him to make the necessary exertions for the discharge of Ms duty , and suggestingthe propriety of his resi ^ ua-Sion . * Mr . Christie then gave a history of the many unsuccessful remonstrances which Mr . Day made against the painful injustice thus inflicted Dn an old servant of the public , and called the attention of the honse to the fact that the only
answer which the Poor Law CommissioneB gave So them , was by ringing changes on their own sense of public dutyy and on the exigencies of the public service . After applying to Sir J . Graham who told him that it was intended to reduce the number of Assistant Commissioners , he wassurprised by the appointment of another in his place , and was at length compelled to resign . Mr . Christie said it was immaterial to him whether the case of Mr . Day was referred to the same committee as the case o ' f Mr . Parker or not ; for his belief was , that with these two cases before the house , and with someother facts , such as the Rochdale case , which were at present under its cognizance , it would be impossible for the honse to vote the salaries of the Poor Law Commissioners again without a previous inquiry into
their mode of administering the Poor Law . Sir J . Grahasi had no intention of opposing the present motion . On a former occasion he had endeavoured to show that it would not be possible for the Loor Law Commissioners to discharge their duty properly if they had not ^ unfettered power to appoint and to change their Assistant Commissioners . He ¦ ras willing to produce all the papers for which Mr . Christie asked , and to submit them to the committee jn the Andover Union . He protested that in hii - tfnduct towards Mr . Day , he had not been guided by any liking or disliking . ^ His only object had been to promote the public service at & time of public danger , by the appointment of the most efficient person to an office of great public importance . The motion was then agreed to .
POST-OFFICE MISMANAGEMENT ] Mr . T . Dcxcombb then rose to move for a select committee to enquire into the allegations of the petition of Mr . Jonathan Duncan , on the mal-administration of affairs in the General Post-Office . If the Government intended to accede to this motion also , he ( Mr . T . Buncombe ) need not occupy the time- of the house ; but , if otherwise , he trusted that if he made out a case for enquiry , the house would support the motion . ( Hear , hear . ) In no public department was investigation more important than in the case of the Post-office , if abuses could be substantiated . Last session he had moved for an inquiry into a portion of the present complaints , particularly with regard to the payment of the officers by fees , but it
was felt to be too late in the session . The house ! oug ht now to agree to an enquiry , if even irrespective of the public interests , it had any regard to its own honour , and not wish its orders to be treated with contempt . ( Hear , hear . ) There was no public department in this country , the administration of which famished greater cause , or juster grounds of dissatisfaction than the General Post-office ; complaints were made , not only outside the walls but within them , and to a most alarming and discreditable extent . The public complained of the delay in the delivery of letters , and he would undertake to prove that * they would be delivered in London an hour and half earlier every morning , bat for certain mal-practices , ( hear , hear . ); and within the walls
the letter-carriers and sub-sorters were greatly dissatisfied , not only because of the manner iu which they were remunerated , but on account of the manner in which they were treated by some of their superior officers . If a subordinate made any complaint , it had no chance of reaching the Postmaster-General fairly , because it had to go through a channel in which it was misrepresented , if not stopped altogether ; so much so , that the men were afraid to make any complaint whatever . ( Hear , hear . ) The petition proceeded from Mr . Duncan of 13 , Chesterplace , Kennington , proprietor of the Sentinel newspaper ; he was a gentleman well known to many
ion . members as one who would not make allegations which he was not fully prepared to prove ; and he ( Mr . T . Duncombe ) had taken great trouble in examining the statements therein made , and he believed they could be ah" established by evidence . ( Hear , hear . ) The hon . member then entered into several details , to show that if there were not great mal-administration in the Post-office , the letters would be delivered an hour and half sooner in every part of the metropolis . He also stated that the letter-carriers complained not only of the scale of their remuneration , but also of the mode in which they were treated by their superiors . lie then entered into a histcrv of the manner in which the
information for Kelly ' s Post-office Directory was obtained by the letter carriers atthe public expence for the benefit of a private individual , and stigmatised it as a gross job . which converted the Post-office into a lucrative printing-office , " and filled its subordinate officers with discontent and dissatisfaction . He believed ihatneiiber the Secretary nor the Postmaster-General were aware of all the circumstances under which that publication was got up . Letter * requesting subscriptions for Nelly ' s Directory had been delivered by the letter carriers without stamps , at the priueipiil houses in the metropolis , and that was so direct an allegation of fraud upon the revenue that the house was bound to inquire into the truth of it .
He had moved last session for a return of the profits derived from the printing of this Directory , which was hawked about from door to door b y the letter carriers for Mr . Kelly ' s benefit ; and the return made was , that the profits did not exceed 1 . 2002 . a-year . Now , if this committee were --ranted , he would prove that the profits of that publication , got op as he had described , at the public expense , enabled Mr . Kelly to put 12 , 0091 . to 15 , 00 til . into his pocket ycarlv . If he was asked what was his remedy for the ' statc of things which prevailed in the Post-office and into which he now asked the house to inquire , ' hc would say , that a good deal might be done by doing away with the whole system of fees ,
11010use Of Gommons-Moxdat, April 20. Ff...
csoecially with regard to the early delivery- ( Hear , hear . ) The system was Ms , that a letter-carrier fac-pn in the office , say at SO * , a-week ; he was then advanced to 23 s ., and after continuing for a length of time at this remuneration , lie was reduced to Ms ., his income being left to be made up by the receipt of fees ontheearly delivery . This was an exceedingly unjust system , and he would do away with it altoaether , and consolidate the general post and the district post departments together . ISothingwas more absurd than that a letter which came twenty miles from London should be p laced on the early post and delivered by a man with a red coat , while another letter , merely because it came only 12 miles , should be delivered at another hour by a man in a blue
coat . Why should there not be only one department for the delivery of letters ? and why should not all letters be delivered atthe earliest or at any hour at which the writersmightchoose to send them ? ( Hear . ) Let all letters be equally delivered , and give the men a fair remuneration on a graduated scale of salary according to their services . Let the letter-carrier be promoted to the sub-sorter ' s situation when a vacancy occurred , instead of putting in new men as subsorters , who did not understand the duties . The whole system , indeed , might be placed on a much better footing . If a committee were appointed , he would have practical men among the sub-sorters examined on the points to which he had advertedsensible , practical men , well acquainted with these matters , but whose knowledge had never been made
available , a few of the superior officers continually standing between them and the Postmaster-General . ( Hear . ) That early delivery ought to be done away with . A public institution ought to befor the equal benefit of all . No man , because he paid more than another , ought to have his letters sooner . ( Hear . ) That was not the principle on which a Post-office should be established . To illustrate the nature of this early delivery , he would take the case of Chaneery-lane , occupied chiefly by lawyers , many of whom submitted , like idiots , to the extortion which prevailed under the system . A man who resided :. t No . 1 on the third floor paid the extortionate fee , whilst a man on the first or second floor did not submit to it . The letter-carrier in going his round passed the
doors of these two , but delivered the letters to the person on the third floor , and wentup Chancery-lane , delivering in the same way the letters of those only who paid the fee , and passing the doors of all others . He then came back to the bottom of Chancery-lane and commenced there with his late-delivery letters to those who did not submit to the extortion . Now , he ( Mr . Duncombe ) maintained that they had no right to ask the letter-carrier , according to his oath , to delay the delivery of a letter an instant because one man gave him more than other . ( Hear , hear . ) The system was persisted'in for the sole purpose of keeping up the wages of those men who were put on a reduced salarv after a certain term of service , and who got what was called the favoured work . ( Hear . )
He did not see how , consistently with the public good and with their own honour , they could refuse him this inquiry . ( Hear . ) Ue repeated , that the Post-office department was most justly complained of by the public at large ; that great maladministration existed in it , and should be removed . He said also that great tyranny and oppression was exercised to wards a meritorious body of servants in that department , and that they were in a state of discontent that might some day or other be most disastrous to the commercial interests of this country ; for he should like to know what would be the state of that city if these parties struck their work—such things
having already been contemplated by them ? For what purpose should government stifle this inquiry if it were not to perpetuate these evils , and this gross job of the Directory , which he had said before was the bane of that establishment , and ought to be done away with ' ? He believed that a committee of that house impartially selected would p lace the establishment on a footing satisfactory not only to the public , but to all parties concerned therein . The hon . gentleman then moved the appointment of & committee to inquire into the allegations in Mr . Duncan ' s petition as to maladministration iu the affairs ot" the Post-office .
Mr . WitLiAus believed Mr . Duncan to be a gentleman incapable of making any statement to that house or elsewhere which he did not thoroughly believe to be consistent with truth ; the charges brought forward on that occasion were such as the house could not refuse to inquire into unless they were prepared to proclaim to the country that the public servants were justified in committing frauds on the public property . Here was a charge distinctly made , that the public property was used for the private interest of individuals , wlio had been named ; and such a charge couid not be disregarded , especially when made on the authority of a gentleman who was in every respect entitled to confidence . He believed there was no department connected with the
government that more required looking into than the Postoffice . There was a time when the Post-office was an example of correctness and order , but that time was gone by . To refuse the inquiry , would be offering a premium to public servants to act net only with dishonesty , but also with a total disregard to the performance of their public duties . He seconded the motion with much pleasure , and he hoped that the government would offer no objection to the inquiry . " Mr . Cardwkll insisted that there was not , on the part of the Treasury or the Postmaster-General , the slightest desire to screen from detection , exposure , and punishment , any such mal-practices as Mr . Duncombe -had just denounced , provided that proof was tendered of their existence . There was no
occasion to bring forward such charges in the House of Commons , as the Treasury and the Postmaster-Geiieral wsre at all times ready to receive memorials complaining of such mal-practices , and to investigate into their truth . Mr . Duscombe . —They would never get there . Mr . Carowell continued . —He ( Mr . Cardwell ) received day after day scores of memorials in the public department in which he had the honour to servo ; and he should not dare to stand up in that house and vindicate his conduct , if it could be truly said that memorials plainly drawn up and properly expressed , containing charges of mal-practices , were treated with disrespect in that department . He would say , that if the hon . member could truly make such statement he would have a good case , not merely for a committee of inquiry , but for severe reprobation upon the public servants , who could make no answer in that
house , when any one brought forward so grave a charge . ( Hear , hear . ) The hon . gentleman then defended Mr . Kelly from the charges which Mr . Duncombe had preferred against him , and in the course of that defence gave a history of the Postrofflce Directory , and of the mode in which it had been originally purchased , and subsequently got up by that gentleman . The information which it contained was official , collected by official persons for official purposes , and must be collected tor the Post-office , even if Mr . Kelly ' s Directory had no existence . The profits which Mr . Kelly derived from that publication were not more than that fair remuneration which a man had a right to expect from the employment of his capital and the exercise of his industry , and were correctly stated in the return before the house . As any alleged abuses connected with the Post-office might be redressed by the Treasury , he objected to the appointment of a commit tee .
Mr , Mopfatt did not think that the hon . member who had just sit down and answered the able argument of his hon . friend the member for Finsbury . The hon . gentleman said that no complaint had been made either to the heads of the department or to the Treasury , but he would remind the hon . member that the inferior officers had felt a degree of hesitation incoming before their superiors , * but if a committee of the house was appointed , the parties complaining would come before them and state their grievances with full confidence that they would have more justice done them than they expected at the hands of their superiors . Inquiry would also have the effect of exposing abuses in the system of the Post-office , and of leading to a judicious reform . That system was both slow and slovenly . Letters which might , under proper management , be delivered at nine o ' clock in the morning , were not delivered until half-past ten .
Mr . Protheeoe supported the motion for a committee of inquiry . Mr . Brotherton complained of the manner in which the appointment of letter-carriers iu large provincial towns was made . There had been sent down to Manchester , from Buckinghamshire , a number of agricultural labourers , as letter carriers—men who could hardly read or write , and who were so unacquainted with the localities of Manchester , that they had even now the greatest difficulty of making out the different streets to which it was their duty to carry letters .
Mr . Christie was by no means satisfied with the speech of Mr . Cardwell . He had denied " upon authority" the statements of Mr . Duncombe , but he had not stated upon what authority . It might be that the authority on which all these denials were given , was only the authority of the parties inculpated . Mr . F . Baring opposed the motion : there was nothing either in the petition of Mr . Duncan or in the complaints of the public to warrant an inquiry into the administration of the Post-office . At the same time he doubted whether it was advisable to carry on the Post-office Directory lor the benefit of an individual by means of the officers of the public .
Mr . Wakf . lt said , that during the debate he had been speculating as to how the ex-offlcial members on that side of the house would vote , and he found he was right in his conjecture , that not one of them would agree to tho motion of ' his hon . colleague . Whenever the public servants were attacked , the ins and outs always agreed . Perhaps they anticipated that inquiry might extend to their own period of office , or they might contemplate the probability of returning to power , and in either case it might prove inconvenient . The statement of the honorable gentleman the Secretary to the Treasury , in answer to his hon . colleague , was absurd , if it was meant to be a refutation of the charges brought forward . If this house was not to enter into inquiry when such allegations were made , their functions as the inquest of the nation were at an end . If the house was satisfied with such a reply as that of the hon . gentleman ,
11010use Of Gommons-Moxdat, April 20. Ff...
they would relinquish their duty as protectors of the interests of the people . He dissociated the allegations in the petition from the general conduct of cne Post-office . He received hundreds of letters , and he knew that the duties of that department were most laborious , and were most wonderfully executed . It could not be denied that ic was a mo't astonishing institution , and every one must be struck with the wonderful manner in which its functions were performed . An inquiry , however , was needed to sift the allegations contained iu Mr . Duncan ' s petition .
The Chancellor of the Exchequer reiterated the statement of Mr . Cardwell as to the readiness of the Treasury to examine into charges of malversation preferred against any officers of the departments _ in connection with it . lie defended the administration of the Post-office from the censures cast upon it , and asserted that if a committee were granted on such vague allegations as the present , the time of the house would be wasted upon inquiries which could lead to no practical result . After a few words from Mr . B . Escoit , as to the intelligence shown by Mr . Bokenham , the superior officer of Mr . Kelly , when examined by the previous Committee of enquiry into Post-office matters .
Mr . T . Duxcoiiue replied that he had never said that Mr . Bokenham was not a most intelligent witness . On the contrary , he desired to have him , and those other gentlemen who had been below the bar , and between whom and the government a running communication had been kept up all the evening , examined even now at the bar , because he believed they could prove his case . He denied that this was a mere squabble between the Directory and a newspaper editor , but it involved a great and important public question . He distinctly charged wilfully false returns to have been made to that house , and he believed every allegation in the petition could be proved by witnesses from the Post-office itself . He had done his duty by calling the attention of the house to the petition , and he now left it to the house to decide whether or not a select committee should be appointed to inquire into the allegations which it contained . The house then
divided—For the motion . 40 Against it 02 Majority againstHhe motion ... 43
IRISH RAILWAY BILLS . Mr . W . S . O'Brien brought forward the motion of which he gave notice— " That with a view to diminish the inconvenience and expense now incurred in carryingthrough Parliament bills for the construction of railways in Ireland , it is expedient that in the case of Irish Railway Bills all such inquiries as are now conducted in London by committees , in both Houses of Parliament , should , after the termination of the present session , take place in Ireland . " His plan for carrying out his resolution was as follows . The Speaker at the end of every session was to have power to appoint a commission to examine all Irish Railroad Bills . The commission was to consist of
five persons—an eminent lawyer , a < ivil engineer , a military engineer , a mercantile man of high station and character , and an intelligent country gentleman . The commission should have power to decide on the policy as well as on the facts involved iu each bill , subject , of course , to an appeal to that house . He left , however , to the government , in case it should accede to his resolution , full power of carrying it into effect by another plan . He had thrown out his own ideas ; but he would not say that another plan less objectionable might not be devised . In case the government gave him its support on this resolution , he should move that the same principle be also applied to all private bills coining from Ireland . Mr . i \ French seconded the resolution .
Sir R . Pkkl observed , that from the number of motions which had gone off that evening , it was quite evident that the house was not prepared for the present very important motion . It certainly was a matter not unworthy of consideration whether in case of railroads , and other important works , we might not institute certain preliminary inquiries on the spot ; but it preliminary inquiries were to be instituted on the spot , the other distant parts of the empire , as well as Ireland , ought to have the benefit of them . There must always be a strong objection , on the part of the house , to give tip its legislative power , and to transfer to five individuals the right of dealing with all the landed property of Ireland , Besides , Mr . S . O'Brien had not stated what he
would di with the joint power of the House of Lords . He hoped that Mr . S . O'Brien would withdraw his motion ; for it was quite impossible that the house could now assent to it . All that he could assent to was the propriety of consideration whether some preliminary inquiry might not be made on the spot with the expediency of local public works , by some bodyacting under the authority and control of the House of Commons ; but the power of legislation must not be taken away from the two houses of Parliament . After a brief discussion , in which Mr . C . Powell , Mr . Wakley , Lord C . Hamilton , Colonel Conolly , Mr . M . O'Connell , Mr . Williams , Mr . Frewen , Mr . E . B . Roche , the Chancellor of the Exchequer , Colonel Rawdon , and Mr . D . Browne joined , the house divided , when there
appeared—For the resolution 25 Against it CO Majority against it H The other orders of the day were then disposed of , and the house adjourned . HOUSE OF COMMONS-Wkdsesday , April 22 . The Speaker took the chair at twelve o ' clock .
FRIENDLY SOCIETIES BILL . Oh the motion of Sir J . Gbauam , the house went into committee for the further consideration of the report of this bill . Mr . T . Duscombe said that great alarm existed in all parts of the country on the subject of some of the enactments of this bill . There was no doubt that if some of the present defects of the bill were not corrected , they would have the effect of ruining many very valuable Friendly Societies . He particularly objected to that part of the bill by which parties who had invested their money in Friendly Societies were not allowed to transfer it when about to leave the society . He could mention a case which occurred some short time ago , where parties were about to quit the country and to go and settle in Russia ; and the consequence was , they lost the advantage of their
investments . 1 his was a hard case , and if its principle were carried out iu similar cases , it would , as he had said , be the ruin of many valuable societies . Sir J . Graham said , that the bill was introduced for the purpose of extending the effect of the judgment given by Mr . Justice Wightman , and it would not interfere with any Friendly Society already in existence ; on the contrary , sonic of its objects were to extend and improve the facilities for the formation of such societies . With respect to the power of the transfer of shares and investments , he apprehended that the hon . member did not state the law exactly on the subject . Those societies whose members had now the right of transferring their shares or investments would continue to hold that right without being interfered with by this bill , but he did not wish , nor was the bill intended , to give a right to an indiscriminate sale of shares in those Friendly Societies .
Mr . RuiUKitFOKD thought that parties who had made investments in those societies ought to be allowed to withdraw them on retiring from them . Sir J . Graham said , that the right of indiscriminate transfer , unless it was guarded and limited , nazht lead to great abuse . Now , he would take the case of men associating for a ' ¦ strike" not to work under a particular rate of wages . That might be lawfully done sinccthe alterations in the combination laws , but the power of transfer to which the lion , member referred might be carried further , and Friendly
and other Benefit Societies might soon be converted into " Strike Associations , " and the funds intended for other purposes might be applied to enable men to hold out against their former employers . This would be an abuse which would ruin many societies . Mr . Rutherford would be willing to . limit the amount of individual investments in such societies to £ 20 , or any other sum that would be sufficiently low to prevent their being converted to the uses ol "Strike Associations , " but he would not deprive the investor of the power of withdrawing his investments when about to retire from the society .
The ATroitNKr-GE . VERAL said , that the principle ol the clause to which they were then referring , was the formation of a fund from which on certain conditions the members of the society could get supplied with clothes , or fuel , or other aids , witiiout the aid of charitable donations . If the princi ple of indiscriminate transfer were adopted , there might not be anv means of preventing others becoming members who would be opposed to the original promoters of the society . He did not say that the member of a Friendly Society , as the law now stood , might not withdraw hi * investments when he pleased , subject to certain rules agreed to by the society itself . He had not seen the rules of any society in which this was not admitted .
Mr . T , Duscombe said that his object was not to give an indiscriminate right of transfer . He would limit it to some party being a member of the society , which would obviate some o f the objections raised against it ; but he believed that the principal ground ol * the right hon . baronet ' s objection was to put down what he called "strike associations ; " but there , he ( Mr . Duncombe ) contended , existed no good ground for feeling any alarm on that point . The alterations which the right hon . gentleman proposed to make , in not allowing persons having shares in tlie . * e societies to transfer them to members of their own families , would in his opinion work a great injustice in many instances .
The Solicitor-Gexeual said , the questions which arose upon this part of the bill were two , —first , whether any shares or interest in the funds of these societies were transferable or not ; and secondly , whether any interest or any funds to which any particular member should be entitled ought to be confined exclusively to himself , or his famil y ; or whether , under the provisions of this bill , power should be given for any one else to participate in the benefit ol those funds . With respect to the first point , it would be exceedingly mischievous if any doubt were aull ' eud
11010use Of Gommons-Moxdat, April 20. Ff...
to exist whether any such interest were transferable : and to hold by law , or to provide by enactment , that tliey coi < ld be transferred , would be to open the door to speculation anil gambling among those classes of society where the practice of that vice was most pernicious . The provisions of this bill therefore were to prevent any doubt upon the point , by , providing against the possibility of those interests being transferred . Upon thesecond poinf , itwas an entire misapprehension to suppose that as the law now existed , or as he trusted it would stand when this bill was passed , there was , or could be , the slig htest difficulty on the part of any contributor to those societies , on a
charge of residence or circumstances in life rendering it necessary for him to withdraw altogether from the institution to which he belonged , in obtaining without diminution , his share of the funds , and app lying it as he thought proper . By the rules of many existing societies it was expressly provided for ; but the provisions of this bill would make the law certain upon the point , by allowing the withdrawal by any person of his share of the funds under certain circumstances . Mr . Rctkeri ? ord suggested a separate clause , in the nature of a proviso , to the effect that nothing should prevent the adoption or enforcement of a rule or regulation by which members retiring should receive their former contributions .
Sir J . Graham said , the rules af friendly societies generally contained a clause of this description , and it was for the interest of the working classes that they should . For instance , if a man who had been contributing to a society should leave London to reside in the country , he ought to have possession of tho accumulated fruits of his industry . If there was any doubt about it he would undertake , on bringing up the report , to insert a clause carrying out the views of the hon . member , with the understanding that the person retiring was alone to be entitled to receive his former contributions . On clause 4 being read , which makes it compulsory upon societ ' es before enrolment to obtain not only a certificate of their legality from the Attorney-General , but also the assent of the Home Secretary .
Mr . T . Duncombe said , it would be putting societies to a great deal of unnecessary trouble , expense , and annoyance to compel them to obtain the assent of the Home Secretary , after the Attorney-General had certified their legality . He therefore proposed that the words " Secretary of State" be left out . Sir J . Graham admitted , that the Home Secretary and tho Attorney-General had already ample employment , and that no additional duties but such as were absolutely necessary . ought to be imposed on them . There was , however , a fireat objection to a too strict definition , by which societies with laudable and important objects might be excluded . After defining the objects for which societies might be established , it was thought advisable that power should be given for the enrolment of & oeietics ( the consent of the Attorney-General and the Home Secretary being first obtained ) which were not entitled to enrolment under previous clauses .
The clause , as amended , was then ordered lo stand part of the bill . On clause 3 , Mr . T . Doxcojirb asked , if the provisions of tho bill were to apply retrospectively to tho-e friendly societies which were already in existence and had been certified ? If that was to bo the case , the measure would have a most injurious effect upon many of those institut ons . Sir J . Ghaiiam said , the bill would leave all existing certified societies in the same position as at
present . They would still continue liable , as they now were , to challenge in a court of law , if any question as to their legality arose . Mr . Hawcs said , the bill would leave the great difficulty affecting the existing societies untouched , il it did not settle the question as to their legality . The question was not determined by the judgment ol Mr . Justice Wightman in the South Shields case , for he ( Mr . Hawcs ) had in his possession the opinion of the learned Attorney-General in direct opposition to Mr . Justice Wightman ' s decision .
Sir J . Graham said it was an unusual and unprecedented proceeding to bring forward in that House an opinion given by counsel on a case not before the House , and upon an ex parte statement , against the solemn decision of so eminent a judge as Mr . Justice Wightman , pronounced after hearing the case fully argued . He ( Sir J . Graham ) could be no party , directl or indirectly , to any attempt to reverse such a decision by a declaratory Jaw , nor could he ask the House to do so . That judgement had not been reversed by any judicial authority : it had not been appealed against ; and neither directly nor indirectly ought it to be retractive !} ' interfered with . It had
been considered expedient that a legal remedy should not be precluded against societies in the same position as that with regard to which Mr . Justice Wightman was called upon to decide ; and this bill was , therefore , only a prospective measure . All societies existing before the passing of this bill would stand upon the same legal footing as if such a measure had not been adopted ; but in ease of doubt being entertained by any of those societies as to the legal foundation on which they stood , they might , under the fifth paragraph of the first- clause , apply for a n « w constitution , if their objects were certified to be legal by the Attornev-General .
Mr . T . Duscombe observed , that out of the 4 , 000 friendly societies in existence , they would not be ablo to find 200 that were not in the same peril as the Soutli Shields Society . His object was that these 4 , 000 societies which had their rules enrolled by the barrister , Mr . Tidd Pratt , should be considered legal societies from this moment , and with this view ho should propose as an amendment to insert the words " orenrolled" after the word " established , " in the third clause . After a short conversation the amendment was withdrawn .
Mr . T . Duncombe then observed that the clause , as it stood at present , declared to be within the beneficial provision *) of the Friendly Societies Act " any friendly society established before the passing ot this act for any purpose which is hereinbefore specified , or for any legal purpose to be certified and allowed by tho Secretary of State , " ifcc . He would move , as an amendment , that the word " or" be inserted after " act , " his object being to disjoin the first part of the clause from any qualifying words , so that . ill friendly societies at present established should be legalized . This had been his object in introducing the present
bill . Sir J . Graham objected to this being done without a preliminary injury into the objects of the societies thus to . be legalized by so sweeping a provision . This amendment would change the tenor of the bill altogether . Mr . T . Duxcomrf . was quite willing to limit himself to enrolled societies , and these must already have been allowed and certified by Mr . Tidd Pratt , the registrar ; who was to have such extensive powers under the proposed bill , that his decision niighl sure ! y be thus acted on by the house . Societies already declared illegal bv a court of justice would be
excluded by a subsequent part of the clause . The Attorney-General objected to legislating in the dark about the natuie of the societies to be legalized . Lord J . Mansers thought , that if it was implied that societies might have been allowed by Mr . Tidd Pratt which were illegal , that gentleman ought to lay down and stute his rules of procedure . Sir J . Graham considered this a bill to lay down for Mr . Tidd Pratt's guidance what should be legal objects . In doubtful cases he might have formerly allowed some rules to pass which it might not be expedient retrospectively to legalize .
After some ' conversation the committee divided ; the numbers were — For the amendment 7 Against it 03 Majority —80 After a trifling verbal amendment had been made , Mr . Dt / . vcostiiE said he hnd certain words which ho wished to add to the clause . There were certain societies established for the relief of the members ! connected with them , and their families , but they were not enrolled in consequence of being included under what were called " Corresponding Societies , " having district branches in various parts of the country . One of these , the Odd-Fellows' Society , had upwards of 400 . 000 members in England
and Scotland , and tliey wished to have the power of enrolment , but could not do so on account of having branch aocietii'S . what he proposed , therefore , was to add to the clame the words , " that existing benefit societies , generally known under the name of Odd Fellows'Societies , Forresters , Rschabites , Old Friends , and other societies tnaf-ing' provision for assistance at deadi , allon-ance fn sicltness , endowments and provision for old age , and for the maintenance of their ivivesand children , and nominees shall , after the passing of this act . be eligible for enrol , ment . " There were members of that house connected with the society of Odd Fellows . He did not know whether the lion , member for Birminjhnm ( Afr . Spooucr ) was or not , but he believed his colleague was , and he hoped he should have his support to this proposal ,
The ATTonNiY-GENEnAL observed , that they had alroady agreed to provisions which would include generally all the societies that ought to be embraced within the scope of the . act , but the object of the provision brought forward b y the hon . member was to define and specify certain societies , of the establishment of which he had no knowledge at all . It appeared to him that the proviso was altogether unnecessary . If these societies were legal , and within the terms comprehended under the former provisions of the act , there was no occasion t <> specify them . If , on the other hand , they were not within the terms of the former provisions , and were not established for a legal purpose , then the lion , member was
attempting to introduce a proviso which would include societies which ought not be includes , and which had been already virtually rejected by the house when it refused the insertion of the word ' all . " In short , if these societies were illegal , the house could not sanction their existence , and if they were legal , they were already provided for in the other provisions of the bill . As to benefit societies having blanches , lie thought it was desirable to protect societies so constituted , and accordingly he was prepared to give his assent to the proviso which the hon . member for Hertford intended to move . He thought that that proviso would answer the object of the hon . gentlenian . Mr . Di'scoiiuE , seeing it was the intention of tin ; go-
11010use Of Gommons-Moxdat, April 20. Ff...
vernment to agree to the clause to b « proposed by the hon . member for Hertford , would not press his amendment . The amendment was then , by leave , withdrawn , and the clauie was agreed to .
COUNTY ELECTIONS BILL . Mr . EiriiiNSTONE then moved the second reading of this bill , of which the object is to limit the time for taking the poll in counties to one day , as is now the case in boroughs . He vindicated the change on the ground that it would lead to a great saving of expense . Lord Wobslet , Mr . Buigiit , and Mr . II . Escott supported the principle of the measure , as being calculated to promote increased purity at elections , by curtailing tho period of their continuance . Colonel T . Wood moved , " That the bill be read that
day six months . " The amendment wai supported by Mr . Newdegate , who apprehended from the contemplated change a terrible accession of strength to tho Anti-Corn Law League at any future general election . Mr . 1 $ . Denison , Sir J . Graham , and Lord G . Bentinck took the same course from a fear that the county constituencies would be curtailed of their present proportions if less time were allowed them to record their votes . Colonel Sibthorp avowed himself hostile to the bill in consequence of its tendency to check the circulation of money atau election .
Upon a division , the bill was lost , there being for the second reading 32 , and against it 55 . The Railwiiy Deposits' Hill , and the Commons Enclosure Bill were read * third time and passed . The house then adjourned . HOUSE OF COMMONS-FniDAY , Apiiil 17 . [ From our Third Edition of last week . ] The house resumed its sittings to-day after the litEmtcT recess The Speaker took the chair at four o clock , when aconsiderable number of members were present .
PROTECTION OF LIFE ( IRELAND ) BILL . Upon Sir J . Graham s moving that the orders of the day for the first reading : of the Protection of Lite ( Ireland ) Bill be read . Mr . W . S . O'Brien made an appeal to the government on the deplorable condition of Ireland . The people of that country were dying by thousands of starvation . Several verdicts had been returned by the juries serving on coroner ' s inquests to tiiat effect . In Kilkenny , and in Clare , the suffering was more intense than in any part of the country . In Cork and Waterford the distress was nearly as bad , and the prospect of the future was even worse than the present , lie gave full credit to the Government for their prudent forethought , in causing a large
portion of Indian meal to be imported ; but he wished to hear [ some explanations of the reasons which had induced the Government , after it had distributed a certain quantity of that meal at Cork at reduced prices , to withhold a further supply of it . Did the Government intend to withhold it until the whole country was one mais of distress and famine ? _ If so , the Government uotild have to deal with starving multitudes who would ratlier be shot than perish of starvation . After showing that the Drainage Act , the Public Works' Act , the Grand Jury Presentment Act , and the Fisheries' Act , could not be rendered available for the relief of the existing distress , he expressed his regret that the government had deemed it
necessary to combine the relief of just distress with the repeal of tho Corn Laws , as it had prevented manypersons , who Would otherwise have combined with the government , from co-operating with it . The government ought also to have disconnected the measures of coercion from those of a remedial character . An Irish Parliament would have assembled in November , and would then have considered the measures necessary to meet a foreseen calamity . Government must be held responsible for all the loss of Jife which might occur from the scarcity of food , and for all the outbreaks which might be occasioned by it . Sir J . Gbauam thought that he could not be accused either of having concealed or of having underrated the sad calamity with which Ireland was at present afflicted .
Nothing but the extremity of the present emergency would justify the measures of government in attempting to feed the entire people under the sudden calamity of approaching famine ; for its machinery was not adequate to any such object . No official account had yet been received of the occurrence of any death from destitution . When it was stated that distress was now cndangeringlife in Ireland , it ought to bo remembered that there were workhouses throughout Ireland , and that in no one instance were they full . It was true that the government had ordered a large importation of Indian corn ; but it was not for the purpose of meeting the entire wants of the Irish people , but for the purpose of checking the markets and of preventing the price of corn from being unduly
enhanced . After stating how far the dirllrcnt measures of government had failed and succeeded , he informed the house that the Irish government had been desired to investigate all the propositions made for new public works , and to undertake new public works , even if the sum now granted for them were insufficient for their completion ; for at a future period of the session , he should apply to Parliament with confidence for any advance which might be necessary beyond the amount now specified in the Public Warks * Act . He thought that an Irish Parliament could not have dealt with a case of this description more generously than the British Parliament had done . He hoped that the discussion on the first reading of this bill would now be allowed to proceed .
Mr . llociiK complained that government , by its recent proceedings at Cork , had not only excited great discontent and dissatisfaction among the population in that vicinity , but had also done much worse by raising the price of corn in all the great corn depots in the empire . There was an absolute want of food in almost every district in Ireland . In his own , which generally was able to supply corn for other districts , the people were suffering so much distress from want of provisions , that they were actually consuming , as food , the potatoes which had been reserved for seed . He insisted that the landlords of Ireland were doing all they could to obtain a supply of food for their peop ' e ; but they did notknow where to obtain it . He was himself employing on his own
estates 400 men at present , but though they had money in their hands , they did not know where to obtain provisions . Sir R . Peel said that the last speaker had given a melancholy confirmation of the impression which had long existed in the mind of Sir J . Graham and himself , and government was , at present , in a situation of great difficulty , and was afraid lest it should aggravate the difficulty , which it wished to cure , by adopting hasty and ill-considered measures . Witlioutstatmg the definite measures of relief which the Government had in contemplation , lest the statement should impede their operation , he inf rmed the house that the Government had
purchased for the supply of Ireland , not only Indian corn , but also American oatmeal . He therefore implored that lion , gentleman , for the sake of the -100 workmen whom he so honourably employed on his estates , to assist him in his efforts to enable those workmen to purchase oatmeal , not at a duty of 7 sbut at a duty of Is . Od . a cwc . The responsibility of relieving the distress of Ireland rested primarily and immediately on those who were resident on tho spot , and who drew their fortunes from the > oil ; and he could not allow that responsibility to be transferred to the Executive Government ,. to which it did not legitimately belong .
Mr . J . O'Connell moved that the debate be now adjourned , on the ground that Ministers " were not prepared to speak at present , and that time ought therefore to be allowed them for preparation . Their silence was a most outrageous and unjustifiable insult to the people of Ireland . If this species of treatment were continued , he should call on Vis friends to be silent also , and to proceed by constant adjournments in opposition to this bill . Mr . W . S . O'Brien seconded the motion . Sir It . Pi Eh left it to the house to judge hnw far the accusation of Mr . J . O'Co . vmjsli , was just or not . He knew of no debate in which more respectful attention hud been paid to the speeches of Irish gentlemen . Ultimately the house divided on the motion , when there appeared—Ayes 20 Noes ... 77 Majority against the amendment—57
After the division , J [ r . Itocns moved , and Jfr . C . Powell seconded the motion , that the house do now adjourn . Some conversation took place on the subject , in which Sir It . 1 ' eel declared that he would have risen to speak , had lie supposed that the division would take place that night , and that ho should certainly speak before the debate was closed . On this announcement Mr . Roche withdrew his motion , and Mr . J . O'Connell withdrew the expression , that Ministers were treating Ire . land with disrespect . The debate was then adjourned till Monday next .
HOUSE OF LORDS—Thursday , Aran . 23 . RAILWAYS . The Earl of Damiousik brought forward the government measure for enabling Railway Companies that had not obtained a corporate character to wind up their affairs and dissolve . The machinery by which this object is to be effected having been " detailed by the noble earl at considerable length , lie proceeded to observe , that as the bill would necessarily occupy some time in its progress through Parliament , and as it was not intended to adopt the recommendation , so strongly urged by the best authorities in commercial and mercantile affairsof stoppin *
, all the Railway Lills in progress , —the further proposition of the government was that a sessional order should be agreed to , to the effect that no bill should be read a third time unless evidence was given , that a meeting of the stockholders of the company had been held , that that meeting consisted of the representatives of one-third of the stock of the company , and that three-fifths of that meetim- voted in person or by proxy , desired that the bill should pass . He admitted that the course now recommended bv the government was an unusual one , but it was one he thought called for by the unpreced ented circumstances ol the case .
A . short discussion ensued , inwhich Lords Brou « ham icktow ighntoun , Clanricarde , and others " took part , the bill was read a fet time , and the house ad . jonrucd .
11010use Of Gommons-Moxdat, April 20. Ff...
I HOUSE OF COMMONS-TiiuRsnAi , Aran . 23 RAILWAY LEGISLATION Sir R . Pekl moved tho following resolutions ;—I . That this house will not read a third time any bill to empower any company ( whether intended tobeincor . porated by such bill , or already incorporated by act of Parliament ) to construct a railway , unless threo clear days before the third reading there shall have been dep 0 . sited at the Private Bill-office , there to be open to the in ! spectton of all parties , a certificate signed and authent j . cated in manner hereinafter mentioned , and comprising the particulars hereinafter expressed , and stating thefol . lowing facts , viz .: —I . That a copy of the bill was sub . mitted to the consideration of a meeting of the scrip . holders of the company , or ( in case of a company already incorporated ) of the shareholders or stockholders of the
company , specially called for that purpose . 2 . That such meeting was called by advertisements , inserted once in each of two consecutive weeks in the London Gazette ( if the railway be an English or Scotch railway ) , or in the Tendon and the Dublin Gazettes ( if the railway be an Irish railway ) , an-l in each case in at least three London daily newspapers , and not less than three times in each such paper , in each of such two consecutive weeks . 3 . In the case of the company being intended to be in . corporated by the bill — that such meeting was con . stituted of persons producing thereat scrip of the com . pnny representing not less than oncthird part of the whole capital proposed to be raised by the company under the bill ( such scrip having been actually issued , or the deposits iu respect thereof having been paid
before- the 31 st of March in the present year ) . 4 . In the case of the company being already iucorporated—that such meeting was held , except so far as is herein otherwise provided , according to the constitution of the company , and was constitttted of shareholders or stockholders thereof competent to vote at the ordinary meetings ef the company , and representing either personally or as proxies not less than one-third part of the whole capital or stock of the company . 5 . That at such mooting the bill was approved of by persons producing thereat scrip equal to at least three-fifths of the total amount of scrip produced at the meeting ; or . in the case of a company already incorporated , by three-fifths at least of the meeting , the votes being given and computed according to the constitution of the company .
"II . That for the purposes of this order it shall be eompetent for the chairman of any ' meeting called in pursuance thereof , in the event of the above prescribed quorum of scrip , shares , or stock ( as tho case may be ) not being represented nt such meeting , to cause the votes of the pu-sons constituting the said meeting , approving or not approving of the bill , to be taken and recorded , and then to adjourn the same to some day , hour , and place , to be declared by the chairman , such day not being less than three days , and not more than one week from the original day of meeting , and such day , hour , and place being , in the meantime , advertised twice in each of three London daily newspapers ; and at such . adjourned meeting it shall also be competent to the chairman thereof to cause to be taken and recorded the votes of such of the persons constituting the same as have not voted at the original meeting ; and the total amount of votes given at the original and adjourned meeting shall be received as if givvn at one and the same meeting .
III . That such certificate shall also comprise , in a tabular form , the following particulars : —1 . The day , time and place of the meeting , and of the adjourned meeting , if any ) . 2 . The dates of insertion of the adver . tisements for the meeting , and the names of tho newspapers in which they were inserted . 8 . The names and addresses of the persons producing scrip at the meeting ; or , in the case of a company already incorporated , the names and addresses of the shareholders , or stockholders , present at the meeting . 4 . The denoting numbers , and the amount of the scrip respectively produced by the per . son * s « producing the same at the meeting ; or , in the case of a company already incorporated , Ihe respective amounts of shares or stock held or represented by the
shareholders or stockholders attending the meeting . 5 , The fact of the approval or non-approval of the bill ( as the case may be ) by the several persons producing scrip at the meeting , or by the several shareholders or stock , holders attending the meeting . 6 . The total amount of scrip produced at sueh meeting , and the amount thereof produced by the persons approving of the bill ; or , in the case of a company already incorporated , the total amount of shares or stock represented , cither in person or by proxy , at the meeting , and the amount thereof so repre . sented by persons approving of the bill . 7 . The total amount ef the capital proposed to be raised by the company under the bill ; or , in the case of a company already incorporated , the total amount of the capital or stock of such company .
IV . That sueh certificate shall be signed by the chairman of the meeting and by one of the solicitors of the company ; and the authenticity of such certificate shall be verified by the signature of the Parliamentary agent depositing the same . lie enforced the propriety of Parliament adopting these resolutions by a reference to the unwholesome extent to which railway speculation had attained , and which was causing the greatest inconvenience to the monetary system of the countrv . Private
individuals also were sustaining serious injury and vexation from the uncertainty of the law ; and these two inconveniences combined to render it highl y desirable that the present moment should be seized for making some legislative reform . A lengthy debate followed , in which a great number of the leading members expressed their opinions on the proposed resolutions . These were generally favourable , but at the same time blame was thrown upon the government for not having interfered sooner . Sir G . Glehk seconded the motion .
Lord G . Bentisck charged the government with having largely contributed to the encouragement of that railway speculation which was now so generallyreprobated ; it had not only diminished the rate of deposit required for the prosecution of such projects , but the head of it had actually himself become the hero of the silver trowel and of the mahogany wheelbarrow , when he broke the first sod of the Trent Valley Railway . Mr . Oaudivkll defended the conduct of government iu reference to their transactions ; they were no further censurable than there was demerit in giving a stimulus to trade , and thereby easing the money market .
Mr . T . Duncombe observed that the government might be responsible for not having proposed these resolutions earlier ; but that it certainly was not responsible for any encouragement given ' to the railway mania . He thought that these resslutions came too late , and did not go far enough ; and therefore , after they were carried , he would submit to the consideration of the house another resolution , which , if adopted , would show the composition of these provisional committees and the objects for which their projects had been got up . lie should propose that it be an instruction to the committee on every private bill originated in that house , relating to any railway , to institute a preliminary inquiry as to the persons , the time , and the means by which the enterprise was
got up . * o honourable committee would object to such an inquiry ; but all your bubble schemes would dissolve into thin air before it , and would be no more heatd of . lie then read the following resolution : — " That it be an instruction to the committee on every private bill originated in this house relating to any railway , before proceeding with the mtvits of such bill , to require to be produced before them , and verified by the promoters , without the appearance ofcounsel , —1 . A copy of the original return made for the purposes of provisional reg i stration , with the names of the promoters as then registired . " In explanation he had to state ,
that any man might go and get any scheme , how absurd soever , provisionally registered on paving £ 5 . InXoveniber and September last every man who dreamed almost of a railway got it registered . It would generally be found that most of the parties who registered were " only solicitors or surveyors . " 3 . The names , residences , and descriptions of the present and past provisional directors , treasurers , solicitors , secretary , and " other officers , if any . " No provisional directors could obj . ct to having their names placed before the committee appointed to consider their own bill . " 8 . The present and proposed I amount of the capital of the company . 4 . The number of shaves and the amount of each share . 5 . The number
of shares actually allotted with the names , residences , and description- ! of the original allottees , and the number of shares allotted to each . " At present the house compulled the production of such information in the case of certain bills . " 6 . The amount of subscriptions paid by such original allottees . 7 . The amount of shares retained by or for the provisional committee . 8 . The amount of subscriptions actually paid up by such provisional committee and the nunibtr of shares now held by thom . " In introducins these resolutions , ho dwelt at some length upon the ad captandum devices which had ben resorted to /' or the purposes of entrapping contributors to various bubble schemes . The clergv , Mr . Duncombe complained , had lent , to a frightful extent , their spiritual influence , to vamp up various illusory schemes , and the laity , led by the example of their ghostly guides , had fallen into the snare .
After a smart and sarcastical speech from Mr . D'Isuaili , and a desultory discussion in which several members joined , the government resolutions were adopted , as were those proposed by Mr . Duncombe with some verbal amendments .
REDUCTION OF THE DUTIES OH TEA . Lord Saxdon , on appl ying for copies of certain memorials , called the attention of Government to the policy of reducing the present tea duties with a view to the extension of our Chinese trade . Mr . Moi'fat seconded the motion , and in the course of his speech detailed some statistical information to show the desirableness of a diminished dut y for producing an increased consumption of tea in this country . The Chascki . i . or of the ExcuEQcituasscnteu to the motion , but declined announcing the intentions of Government on this subject .
¦ - ¦ ¦¦¦≪¦ Printed Bvl)Olg:U.Xl'gov Ax, Ofk Great Wiml Ill Street, Uaymarket, In The City Of Wostmiiistpr, - »Ttha
¦ - ¦ ¦¦¦<¦ Printed bvl ) OLG : U . Xl'GOV AX , ofK Great Wiml ill street , Uaymarket , in the City of Wostmiiistpr , - » ttha
I'Tlirc, In T)U> Fame Stiver Mid Vnnsn, ...
I'tlirc , in t ) u > fame Stiver mid Vnnsn , * «< = . - m-ietor , l- 'UAWGl ' S U'CUX . V . OK , Ksi ' ., aud published bv William Hlwitt . of No . IS , Charlcs-strcct , llvanj ilou-stveot , Walworth , iu the Parish of & t . Mary , New ingtoii , in the County of Surrey , at the Office , No . 16 , Uivat Wiittlinill-stivet , lliiyinarket , in . ^ thc City of Westminster ; Saturday , April 2 s , 184 S .
-
-
Citation
-
Northern Star (1837-1852), April 25, 1846, page 8, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns2_25041846/page/8/
-