directed to the present unsanitary condition of the River Lea, as depicted in the columns of The Standard; and, having regard to the part played by that river in one of the serious outbreaks of cholera in the Metropolis, whether it is his intention to take any steps to avert the possible recurrence of the like danger? THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR), in reply, said, that he had already answered a similar Question, the reply being to the effect that a loan for works to cure the insanitary condition of the River Lea had already been sanctioned, and, pending the completion of those works, temporary works were in progress. ARMY-LIMERICK ARMY CLOTHING FACTORY. MR. SEXTON (for Mr. PARNELL) asked the Surveyor General of Ordnance, Whether the work executed on contract for the Army at the Limerick Army Clothing Factory costs less than similar work done at the Government Clothing Factory in Pimlico; whether the existing contracts now being executed by the Limerick Factory will be completed about the end of September, and whether, as a consequence of this and of the absence of fresh Government contracts, about a thousand hands are likely to be thrown out of employment in the city of Limerick, while the hands of the Pimlico Factory will be maintained in full work ; REGISTRATION OF VOTERS (IRELAND) and, whether, under these circumstances, ACT-THE ASSISTANT REVISING the Department will give the Limerick Factory sufficient work to keep their hands employed during the winter months on the same terms as in the Government Factory at Pimlico? THE SURVEYOR GENERAL OF ORDNANCE (Mr. GUY DAWNAY): Work executed at the Limerick factory usually, but not invariably, costs. less than work executed at Pimlico. In their latest contract for kersey frocks and tweed trousers, the Limerick prices exceeded in a marked manner those of Pimlico; at the rate of production which has obtained since April, it will be the end of October before the Limerick factory will have sent in all the clothing for which they have contracts. By that time it will be practicable to see to what extent further contracts can be given to Limerick; but, as regards reduction of workpeople, a large reduction will have to be made at Pimlico, and Limerick can scarcely hope to escape one also. MR. SEXTON: Are we to understand that, if the work can be done cheaper than at Pimlico, Limerick will not suffer? THE SURVEYOR GENERAL: Yes; Limerick will not suffer at all. THE PARKS (METROPOLIS) INCLO SURE AT REGENT'S PARK. THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, WAR DEPARTMENT (Mr. H. S. NORTHCOTE): Military temporary clerks receive the rates of pay laid down by the Royal Warrant. Instead of 108. a-day, the temporary clerks of the lower division employed at the clothing factory MR. DANIEL GRANT asked the receive, on the average, less than 78. First Commissioner of Works, Whether a-day; but the conditions of service are his attention has been drawn to a statealtogether different, and comparisonment in "The Echo" of Saturday last, cannot be made justly between the respective classes. that a portion of the land in Regent's Park, lately restored to the public, has been again inclosed; and, whether such | Gentleman's (Sir Henry James's) restatement is correct; and, if so, what marks on Monday. steps he proposes to take in the matter? SIL HENRY JAMES, in making a personal explanation (by leave of the Speaker), said, the hon. Member for Salisbury (Mr. Coleridge Kennard) questioned the accuracy of the statement that the House had unanimously expressed an opinion against embodying the prin ciple of police enfranchisement in the Representation of the People Bill. Now, that statement he (Sir Henry James) adhered to and emphasized. In Committee on the Registration (Occupation Voters) Bill, on the part of the late Go THE FIRST COMMISSIONER (Mr. PLUNKET): A portion of the land adjoining the ornamental water in the Regent's Park has been railed off, in order to lessen the risk of children being drowned by going too near the edge at a place where the bank is rather steep, and also in order to secure a resting place for the wild fowl. A similar course has been adopted in other London parks, and I quite approve of such precautions being taken; how-vernment, he had stated the objections ever, having carefully investigated the matter myself, I think that rather more space has been reserved for these purposes than was absolutely necessary, and I have given directions that it should be reduced, so as to leave as much of the grass to the public as possible. REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE ACT, 1884-POLICE ENFRANCHISE- MR. COLERIDGE KENNARD asked, Why a Question did not appear on the Paper that he had given Notice of as to whether the late Attorney General adhered to his statement that the House was unanimous in objecting to the clause in favour of police enfranchisement he (Mr. Coleridge Kennard) brought forward on the Representation of the People Bill, when the fact was that he withdrew it, and no division was taken ? MR. SPEAKER said, he had the terms of the Question before him, which related to past debates in the House. Such a Question would be irregular. MR. COLERIDGE KENNARD, in explanation, said, the Question was in allusion to the right hon. and learned Mr. Daniel Grant to the enfranchisement of the police in answer to the Motion of the hon. Member for Salisbury that the police should be enfranchised; and while speaking the signs of assent in the Committee were so marked that he made his observations very briefly. As soon as he brought his observations to an end two hon. Members rose to their feet. The hon. and learned Member for Bridport (Mr. Warton) was successful in his claim to address the House first, and he said that he had "reached a state of happiness which he never expected to enjoy of being able to com cur with every word uttered by the Attorney General." The hon. Member for Salisbury then THE SUEZ CANAL-THE PARIS MR. MONK asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whe ther he will state to the House what decisions were arrived at by the Conference held at Paris in reference to the Suez Canal; and, whether any Papers on the subject will be presented to Parliament before the Prorogation? THE UNDER SECRETARY OF Amendment proposed, STATE (Mr. BOURKE): It would not be possible, within the limits of an answer to a Parliamentary Question, to give the information asked for by the hon. Member. But the Papers are being prepared with the utmost despatch, and will be presented before the Prorogation. No definite decision has yet been arrived at by the Conference. In page 1, line 17, by inserting after the word "prostitute," the words "or of known immoral character."—(Mr. Tomlinson.) Question, "That those words be there inserted," put, and negatived. THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir R. ASSHETON CROSS), in moving, as an Amendment, in page 1, line 18, to leave out from "procure to "intent," in line 23, both inclusive, and to insert(3) Procures or attempts to procure any woman or girl to leave the United Kingdom, with intent that she may, for the purposes of prostitution, become an inmate of a brothel else. where; or (4) procures or attempts to procure any woman or girl to leave her usual place of abode in the United Kingdom (such place not being a brothel) with intent that she may, for the purposes of prostitution, become an inmate of a brothel within or without the Queen's dominions," said, it was the re-casting of the clause which they had undertaken to effect when the Bill was in Committee. Amendment proposed, In page 1, line 18, by leaving out from the word " 'procures," to the word "intent," in line 23, both inclusive, and inserting the words "(3.) Procures or attempts to procure any woman or girl to leave the United Kingdom with intent that she may, for the purposes of prostitution, become an inmate of a brothel elsewhere; or "(4.) Procures or attempts to procure any in the United Kingdom (such place not being woman or girl to leave her usual place of abode a brothel), with intent that she may, for the Question proposed, "That the words proposed to be left out stand part of the Bill." MR. WARTON said, he would propose to amend the Amendment by the omission from Sub-section 3 of the words "for the purpose of prostitution." No right-minded Englishman would allow a woman or girl to be carried away even to become a servant in a brothel. Question put, and negatived. Question proposed, "That the words (3.) Procures or attempts to procure any woman or girl to leave the United Kingdom with intent that she may, for the purposes of prostitution, become an inmate of a brothel elsewhere; or '(4.) Procures or attempts to procure any woman or girl to leave her usual place of abode in the United Kingdom (such place not being | dence of one witness, unless such witness be a brothel), with intent that she may, for the corroborated in some material particular," purposes of prostitution, become an inmate of a brothel within or without the Queen's domi nions." be there inserted." Amendment proposed to the said proposed Amendment, in lines 2 and 3, leave out "for the purposes of prostitution." -(Mr. Warton.) Question proposed, "That the words proposed to be left out stand part of the said proposed Amendment." THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir R. ASSHETON CROSS) said, he was not at all disposed to stand by the words which the hon. and learned Member for Bridport proposed to strike out. MR. CAVENDISH BENTINCK said, he thought that the words ought to be retained as a safeguard against the clause imperilling persons to whom it was not right that it should apply. Question put, and negatived. Amendment amended accordingly. Amendment proposed to the said proposed Amendment, In line 3, by leaving out the word "elsewhere," and inserting the words "without the Queen's dominions,"-(Mr. Warton,) -instead thereof. Question, "That the word ' elsewhere' stand part of the said proposed Amendment," put, and agreed to. said, that in the class of offence dealt with by the section false swearing was extremely probable, and that the precedent of the Bastardy Acts should be followed in requiring the corroboration of the principal witness in some material particular. When this subject was under discussion before, his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department said it was unnecessary to make such a provision, as no Judge would allow a prisoner to be s convicted. The right hon. Gentleman had no sooner made that statement than the right hon. and learned Gentleman opposite the late Attorney General (Sir her for West Staffordshire (Mr. Staveley Henry James), the hon. and learned MemHill), and the hon. and learned Member for Stockport (Mr. Hopwood) got up and gave a totally different account of the action of the Judges under the circumstances supposed. That being so, he hoped his right hon. Friend (Sir R. Assheton Cross) would accept his Amendment. Amendment proposed, after word "labour," the words-"Provided. In page 1, line 26, by inserting after the That no person shall be convicted of any offence under this section upon the evidence of one witness unless such witness be corroborated in some material particular." — (Mr. Cavendish Bentinck.) Question proposed, "That those words Amendment proposed to the said pro- be there inserted." posed Amendment, In line 4, by inserting, after the word "woman," the words "under the age of thirtyone years."(Mr. Cavendish Bentinck.) Question, "That those words be there inserted," put, and negatived. Amendment proposed to the said proposed Amendment, in line 5, by leaving out the words "such place." (Mr. Warton.) SIR HENRY JAMES said, he thought it would be well, on the whole, if the House accepted the Amendment of the right hon. and learned Gentleman Mr. Cavondish Bentinck). It applied only to Sub-section 2; but it included not only the doing of certain acts, but the attempt to do them, and the offence therein might be committed in conversation with a woman. It was desirable, therefore, in order to prevent false charges being made, that there should be corroboration. If a person did an overt act the corroboration could always be supplied, and it was the law in Scotland." MR. ELTON said, he quite agreed with the right hon. and learned Gentleman the late Attorney General on the point, and hoped the Amendment would be agreed to. - (Sir R. THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir woman or girl, not being a common prostitute R. ASSHETON CROSS) said, the Governor of known immoral character, to have any ment had considered this matter fully, without the Queen's Dominions, unlawful carnal connection either within or and they were prepared to accept the Assheton Cross.) Amendment. While adopting every-instead thereof. means to punish these offences, they must take care to prevent injustice being done. SIR HENRY JAMES said, the charge might be maliciously made by an immoral woman. He would, therefore, suggest that words should be added making it clear that the corroboration had relation to the charge. He should therefore propose to add to it the words "by testimony tending to implicate the accused." The corroboration should certainly be of that character. Amendment proposed, by adding at the end of the said proposed Amendment, the words "by testimony tending to implicate the accused."-(Sir Henry James.) Question proposed, "That those words be there added." MR. J. LOWTHER said, he thought the words of the right hon. and learned Gentleman the Member for Taunton were rather vague, and suggested that the addition should consist simply of the words "by evidence implicating the accused." SIR HENRY JAMES said, he would accept the Amendment of his proposed Amendment as suggested by the right hon. Gentleman (Mr. J. Lowther). Amendment (Sir Henry James) to the said proposed Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Amendment proposed, by adding at the end of the said proposed Amendment, the words "by testimony implicating the accused."(Mr. J. Lowther.) Question, "That those words be there added," put, and agreed to. Amendment, as amended, agreed to. Amendment proposed, In page 2, line 2, by leaving out from the word intimidation," to the words " any per son, Question, "That the words proposed to be left out stand part of the Bill," put, and negatived. Question proposed, "That the words,-'procures or attempts to procure any woman or girl to have any unlawful or carnal connection either within or without the Queen's Dominions; tions procures or attempts to procure any woman "(2) By false pretences or false representa or girl, not being a common prostitute or of known immoral character, to have any unlawful carnal connection either within or without the Queen's Dominions,' be there inserted." Question, "That the words proposed to be left out stand part of the said proposed Amendment," put, and agreed to. Amendment proposed to the said proposed Amendment, In line 1, by inserting, after the word 66 woman," the words "under the age of thirty-one years."-(Mr. Cavendish Bentinck.) Question, "That those words be there inserted," put, and negatived. Amendment proposed to the said proposed Amendment, In line 5, by inserting, after the word "woman," the words "under the age of twentyone years."(Mr. Cavendish Bentinck.) Question proposed, "That those words be there inserted." Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Amendment proposed to the said proposed Amendment, in line 4, by leaving out the words "or attempt to procure.' -(Sir Henry James.) or at Question, "That the words tempt to procure' stand part of the proposed Amendment," put, and negatived. Amendment, as amended, agreed to. MR. STANSFELD moved to amend the clause by providing that it should be an offence to administer, or cause to in line 6, inclusive, and inserting the words-" 'procures or attempts to procure any woman or girl to have any unlawful carnal connection either within or without the Queen's Dominions; '(2) By false pretences or false representa- be taken for immoral purposes, by a tions procures or attempts to procure any girl, intoxicating liquors, as well as 66 |