weight of evidence. On the contrary, | troop deck, and 48 compelled to find they decided according to the weight of space where they could; if it is true the evidence, and not according to the that, during the whole of the voyage, number of witnesses examined on each not a single hammock was served out to side, and they pointed out that they be- these men; if it is also true that the washlieved the insobriety was slight in the ing accommodation for these 628 men first instance, and that in the interval was ten basins, to which access was only the constable had recovered sobriety. allowed for one hour and a-half in the In my opinion, this is entirely a matter morning; and, if, in addition to the of the discipline of the Force, which does above, 42 women and 95 children were not call for any interference by the Chief packed in a space, in another part of Secretary; but I am informed by the the vessel, totally inadequate to receive authorities that Sub-Constable Forbes them, and were subject, with the rest, does not by the fine on this occasion to a condition of things during two lose all chance of future promotion. days' rough weather which was neither decent nor humane? NAVY PORTSMOUTH DOCKYARD MR. T. C. BRUCE asked the Secretary to the Admiralty, Whether it is true that a large number of men were temporarily discharged from Portsmouth Dockyard last Saturday, and a further number on Thursday; and, if so, what is the reason of this measure? MR. TREVELYAN: No men have been actually discharged from the books of Portsmouth Dockyard; but 210 men who had been entered for temporary service, and who had, when entered, been informed that they would probably be discharged at the end of the financial year, were told that they would not be required in the Yard from the 20th to the 25th instant. To-day the whole of the men will resume work. The reason for their suspension was that the Yard was £300 to £400 short of money. Orders will be given that in future the Admiralty should be specially informed from the Dockyards, at the end of the financial year, whether a discharge of workmen is in contemplation, so that the Board may use its discretion, as it has done this year in the case of Sheer ness. NAVY-THE TROOPSHIP "ASSIST- LORD CLAUD HAMILTON asked the Secretary to the Admiralty, If his attention has been drawn to the misery and discomfort attendant on the recent sea voyage of the 1st battalion Scots Guards from Dublin, lasting from 4 p.m. on the 18th instant to 3 p.m. on the 22nd instant; if it is correct that out of a total of 628 non-commissioned officers and men, 580 men were packed on the MR. TREVELYAN: In 1875 the usual Committee of Naval and Military Quartermaster General's Department officers, including an officer of the and of the Army Medical Department, surveyed Her Majesty's ship Assistance, and fixed her capacity at 810 men and 142 women and children. On the occasion to which the noble Lord refers she carried 633 men and 127 women and should always be a guard on deck, and children. It is a regulation that there the guard in question. Hammocks were probably the 48 men referred to were available, and would have been issued if they had been asked for. The Quartermaster was offered to have blankets served out, but declined the offer. There were 15 basins in the troops' wash-places, which were open eight hours in the day. No complaint has ever before been received of the insufficiency of the accommodation on the Assistance for such numbers as were em barked on this occasion. The captain of the vessel reports, by telegraph, with reference to the voyage under consideration, that "The colonel, on leaving, took the opportunity of thanking me for all the comfort on board the ship; and, being asked by me if he had any complaint, said, 'No; only regretted passage was so short.'" time ago with the electric light at the House, with a result which was well known to them all. As the change suggested would involve some expense, and as experiments were still being made, he did not think it would be worth while to proceed with the alteration till the whole question of lighting the Houses of Parliament came up for considera tion. MR. HEALY asked, whether it was not a fact that gas was best seen in a fog? MR. SHAW LEFEVRE said, that was a moot point; but he thought the general belief was that the electric light was seen best in foggy weather. CONTAGIOUS DISEASES (ANIMALS) ACT -RETURNS OF INFECTED AREAS. MR. HUSSEY VIVIAN asked the Vice President of the Council, Whether he will direct that the weekly Returns of infected areas under the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act, which are printed for the use of the central office, shall be forwarded to the clerks of the local authorities, in order to enable them to make adequate rules for the protection of their districts, without the necessity of constantly obtaining copies of, and searching through, the London Gazette? MR. MUNDELLA: The Returns of infected areas are advertised in The Lon don Gazette for the convenience of local authorities. It would unnecessarily increase the trouble and expense if we were to undertake to furnish printed copies of these weekly Returns to the various committees, which number some thousands. SPAIN-COMMERCIAL TREATY-NEGO TIATIONS. MR. O'SHEA asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether there is truth in the statement that Her Majesty's Government have lately made serious proposals to the Cabinet of Madrid as to a Commercial Treaty, and that the Cabinet of Madrid have, in reply, proposed that city as the place of negotiation? SIR CHARLES W. DILKE: In answer to the hon. Member, I have to say that the Government of Spain have expressed a wish to discuss the commercial relations of the two countries at Madrid. TURKEY-THE HARBOUR OF SMYRNA. MR. W. H. SMITH asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, If he is now able to state the result of the negotiations with the Porte for the retrocession of the hundred pico of free landing space in the harbour of Smyrna, which were reserved to the commercial community of that port in the original. concession to the Smyrna Quay Company; and when the papers which have been promised on the subject will be laid upon the Table? SIR CHARLES W. DILKE: The negotiations with the Porte on the subject of the free landing space in the harbour of Smyrna are not yet concluded; but Papers will be presented to Parliament in the course of the present week, and distributed early next week. INDIA-CONVEYANCE OF STORES. MR. CODDINGTON asked the Se cretary of State for India, Whether a Departmental Committee of the India Office recently recommended the system of public tender in respect of shipments made by the Indian Guaranteed Railways; and, if so, on what principle it has now adopted a secret system in obtaining freights for the conveyance of Government stores? THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTON: About three years ago the system of public tender, which was already in force for India Office shipments, was recommended by a Departmental Committee for shipments, made by the Guaranteed Railways. Subsequent experience, however, had shown, as I stated last Monday, that there are objections to this system; and the change in the India Office arrangements, which I then explained, has, therefore, been made. The new system is not a secret one, and is that adopted by many large mercantile firms, as well as by other Government Departments concerned in the freight of stores. I see no reason to doubt its continuing to be satisfactory and economical. request of the Government, Mr. Massy gave a piece of ground for the erection of a police hut; whether, in consequence of this loyal act, he has been Boycotted, and deserted by his domestic servants and farm labourers; and, whether the Government intend to take any steps for the relief of Mr. Massy, and to supply him with assistance to work his farm, now out of cultivation owing to his loyal aid offered to the Government? THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. W. M. JOHNSON): The Chief Secretary requests me to inform the right hon. Baronet that his attention has been given to the position and case of Mr. Massy, of Suir Castle; that it is the fact that Mr. Massy, at the request of the Government, gave a site for the erection of a police hut; and that, in consequence of this act in the interests of law and order by Mr. Massy, he has been "Boycotted," and has been deserted by his domestic servants and by his farm labourers. I have only to add that the Chief Secretary will see that anything in the power of the Government shall be done to alleviate Mr. Massy's position. PROTECTION OF PERSON AND PROPERTY (IRELAND) ACT, 1881-MEMBERS OF THIS HOUSE ARRESTED UNDER THE ACT. MR. HEALY asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether it is a fact that a number of suspects, at present confined in Irish gaols, have been liberated on parole, in order to attend to their private affairs; and, whether he will recommend the Irish Government to release on parole the honourable Member for Cork, the honourable Member for Tipperary, and the honourable Member for Roscommon, in order that they may vote on the Clôture Resolution? MR. GLADSTONE: Sir, it is a fact that certain of the prisoners in Ireland have been set at liberty in order to attend to their private affairs; but that has been done with great care, and after strict investigation. I think the House will perceive that that can constitute no precedent whatever for the liberation suggested in the Question of the hon. Member. If that liberation were granted for the division on Thursday night, there is no reason why it should not be granted for every division which takes place in this House. NAVY-ROMAN CATHOLIC CHAPLAINS FOR TROOPSHIPS. COLONEL NOLAN asked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, If his attention has been called to the declaration on the 1st August 1879 of the late Chancellor of the Exchequer, that the then First Lord of the Admiralty had a difficulty in promising to meet the wishes of the Catholic Members on the subject of Catholic Chaplains for troopships, because this subject required the authority of departments other than the Admiralty, but that he, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, speaking for himself and his colleagues in the Government, would do their best to get carried out the proposal made with regard to the appointment, in certain cases, of Catholic Chaplains to troopships; and, if the present Chancellor of the Exchequer would do his best to get carried out the promise made by the late Chancellor of the Exchequer in his official capacity? THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. GLADSTONE), in reply, said, that neither the attention of the Secretary of State for War nor of the First Lord of the Admiralty had been drawn to this subject until the Question of the hon. and gallant Member appeared. All he could say at present was that he believed there was no difficulty in providing accommodation for Catholic chaplains; and his right hon. Friend at the head of the War Department and his noble Friend at the head of the Admiralty would carefully consider the best course to be adopted. ENGLAND AND FRANCE -THE CHANNEL TUNNEL SCHEME. MR. GREGORY asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether it is understood by the promoters of the Channel Tunnels that they are proceeding with their respective undertakings entirely at their own risk, and that they will have no claim for compensation in case it should be considered necessary, for the defence of the Realm, to stop or suspend their works, or at any time to take possession of them, or of the Tunnel, when constructed, for such purpose? MR. GLADSTONE: In answer to this Question, I have to state that a letter was addressed on the 6th of March to Sir Edward Watkin, as Chairman of the Company which is now engaged in cer tain works with a view to the execution been anything like the pains taken, of the Tunnel, and in this letter those or, I may say, the pecuniary sacriwho are spending money on the works fice made, in order to cheapen litiga-that is to say, the shareholders of the tion which have been taken by the Company-are informed that the Govern- Commissioners under the Land Act. ment reserves its right to use any power The Commissioners have laid down a which it may possess in any way that scale of fees to be paid to solicitors for may seem to be for the best interests of work done in Court; but, of course, they the country. That, I think, is the only cannot control payments which parties manner in which the question can be may think fit to make to their solicitors dealt with at present. In regard to the for work not directly done in Court. latter part of the Question-namely, They have likewise thrown no difficulty whether there is power at any time to whatever in the way of those tenants take possession of the Tunnel when con- who may be disposed to conduct their structed that rather presumed that ar- own cases. There is no impediment rangements have been made for the thrown in their way with regard to construction of the Tunnel, which at valuators. The Commissioners state that present is not the case. there is a good deal of exaggeration about the fees, as they believe, that are paid by tenants to valuators. What they have to say is, in the first place, that they do not require a litigant to employ a valuator; and, in the second place, they do everything in their power to supply the place of valuators by making the personal inspection of the holding in every case they have to decide. MR. GREGORY: Would the Government exercise that power without the compensation? MR. GLADSTONE: I apprehend there is no doubt of that as to the present works. MR. O'SHEA: Has Sir Edward Watkin been informed whether he has a right to go beyond the foreshore ? MR. GLADSTONE: I believe Sir Edward Watkin is very well informed as to all matters connected with the Company over which he presides, and it is not at all necessary for us to inform him on these matters. ROYAL COMMISSION ON AGRICULTURE -THE REPORT. MR. JAMES HOWARD asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether he can give information as to the time when the Report of the Royal Com LAND LAW (IRELAND) ACT, 1881-THE mission on Agriculture may be expected LAND COURTS-LEGAL EXPENSES. MR. O'DONNELL asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether his attention has been directed to the letter of Mr. Bence Jones in the "Standard" of Tuesday, complaining of the excessive legal expenses incumbent upon even the most necessitous applicants to the Land Courts; whether the Government is aware that the services of a solicitor can only be secured by a payment of from £3 to £5 for the first stage of the tenant's case, and that the fee charged by valuators, whose evidence is so necessary in all contested claims, varies from £3 to £10 a day; whether this outlay is incurred even though the block in the Land Court leaves the tenant without a hearing of his case for an indefinite period of time; and, whether the Government will propose any remedy? MR. GLADSTONE: I have obtained certain information on this matter, and the state of the case is this. The statement is that there has never VOL. CCLXVIII. [THIRD SERIES.] to be in the hands of Members ? MR. GLADSTONE, in reply, said, he had himself no information as to the time at which the Report might be expected. The Clerk of the Commission, who had no information, was, so far as he knew, the only gentleman officially connected with the Commission who was in town. That gentleman informed the Government that the Chairman and the Secretary and the Assistant Secretary were all out of town, and he had been unable to obtain any information in regard to the Report. There were, he believed, several Members of the Commission in the House, and he should therefore recommend his hon. Friend to address his Question to one of these hon. Gentlemen. STATE OF IRELAND-MILITARY RIOTS MR. SEXTON asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether his attention has been called to the report of C MR. CHILDERS: From information we have received, I believe that the accounts in the newspapers have been greatly exaggerated. What has happened is that a man of the depôt of the Connaught Rangers was arrested by a picket of the detachment of the York and Lancaster Regiment now at Galway, and rescued by some men of the depôt and some civilians. In the excitement which ensued a soldier was wounded. The General commanding the district has gone to Galway to investigate the matter. a riot which is stated to have occurred SIR HARDINGE GIFFARD said, that in the city of Galway between soldiers he hoped the House would allow him to belonging to the 84th and 88th (Con- recall to them the exact question which naught Rangers) Regiments; whether was before it. Some hon. Members apthe riot has resulted in serious injury proached-conspicuously the Home Seto the combatants and others; and, if cretary and the hon. Member for Glahe will take any special measures for morganshire (Mr. Hussey Vivian)-the the better protection of life and pro- question under debate as if it was a perty in Galway? question of getting rid of those persons who wantonly placed impediments in the way of the discharge of Public Business. That, however, was not the question. The question under debate was whether a mere majority of the House should have the power to put an end to debate which was neither obstructive nor unduly repeated. If they wanted an illustration of the importance of keeping that distinction in view, they could not do better than to refer to the speech of the Prime Minister. It was idle to suppose that hon. Members on that side of the House were not heartily in accord with the Prime Minister in wishing to get rid of Obstruction. The right hon. Gentleman had pointed out the increase which had taken place in Public Business, and the necessity of devising some scheme for preventing wanton waste of time caused by repeatedly moving the adjournment and other obstructive tactics. But all these things were provided for by special Resolutions; and, therefore, do not let it be suggested and put before the country that the House was now discussing the question of whether or not the Forms of the Procedure of the House should or should not be altered, or whether they should prevent the adjournment of the House before the beginning of Public Business, or of continual Motions for the adjournment of the debate and of the House. The particular Resolution they were now engaged in discussing did not touch any of these things. Neither did it touch the ORDERS OF THE DAY. 19:0:9 PARLIAMENT BUSINESS OF THE RESOLUTION. ALJOURNED DEBATE. [FOURTH NIGHT.] Order read, for resuming Adjourned Debate on Amendment proposed to Question [20th February], "That when it shall appear to Mr. Speaker, or to the Chairman of a Committee of the whole House, during any Debate, to be the evident sense of the House, or of the Committee, that the Question be now put, he may so inform the House or the Committee; and, if a Motion be made That the Question be now put,' Mr. Speaker, or the Chairman, shall forthwith put such Question; and, if the same be decided in the affirmative, the Question under discussion shall be put forthwith: Provided that the Question shall not be decided in the affirmative, if a Division be taken, unless it shall appear to have been supported by more than two hundred Members, or unless it shall appear to have been opposed by less than forty Members and sup-question of a particular Member disre ported by more than one hundred Members."(Mr. Gladstone.) And which Amendment was, To leave out from the first word "That," to the end of the Question, in order to add the words "no Rules of Procedure will be satis factory to this House which confer the power Question again proposed, "That the garding the authority of the Chair, or the question of a Member wantonly consuming time by tedious repetitions. All these things were specially provided for, as well as the question of Motions upon going into Committee of Supply. He had remarked, having the Paper in his hand as the Home Secretary spoke on Thursday night, that every one of the suggested cases which he gave the House as a possible course which might be pursued, and which this Rule was intended to prevent, were provided for in the |