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CONTRACTS FOR WATERING THE

STREETS.-QUESTION.

MR. BECKETT-DENISON asked the

Chairman of the Metropolitan Board of Works, If he will lay upon the Table of the House Copies of the Contracts for Watering and Scavengering the streets for 1878, entered into by the undermentioned Vestries and District Boards -1. Saint James, Westminster; 2. Westminster District; 3. Strand District; 4. Saint Giles District; 5. Holborn District; 6. Saint George, Hanover Square; 7. Saint Marylebone; 8. Paddington; 9. Kensington; 10. Fulham; 11. Chelsea?

SIR JAMES M'GAREL HOGG: I should be very glad to comply with the wishes of the hon. Member if it were in my power; but I have no exclusive information, in virtue of the office which I hold, respecting the contracts entered into by the vestries and district boards, and I must refer him to the vestry clerks of the parishes mentioned in his Question. If I can render him any assistance in obtaining the information from those gentlemen, I shall be happy to

do so.

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"The chiefs of two tribes situate south of Pongola (Magnami and Job) have expressed their opinion, in presence of an Englishman and some of their inounas, that they would be pleased to see the Zulu country in the hands of the English, as it would relieve them from the present slavery they are in with regard to the Zulus. The Aborigines' Protection Society may not be aware that some few months ago 1,000 Caffirs

were drafted from these two chiefs to work in Natal by Cety wayo, the Zulu chief, and that the money they earned was not paid to them but to the Zulu king; and the whole thing has left such a bad impression that it is almost impossible to get a single native from them to go to Natal;

and, whether, if this statement is true, he will take steps to free the immigration of native labourers to Natal from the abuses complained of?

SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH, in reply, said, that he had no information whatever respecting the statement that had been read; but he would direct the Lieutenant Governor to make inquiries

LOCOMOTIVE ACCIDENT NEAR LEEDS. into the subject.

QUESTION.

MR. BARRAN asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, If his attention has been called to a serious

injury that was done on the 11th instant to an old woman, seventy-five years of age, by a locomotive engine on Hunslet Moor, near Leeds, whilst walking on the footpath alongside a tramway which is laid down across the Moor from the Middleton Collieries; whether he is aware that the tramway in question is traversed by locomotives without Parliamentary sanction, and is so unguarded and uncontrolled as to be dangerous to the numerous persons crossing the Moor; and, whether he would direct an official inquiry to be made with a view to protect the public against similar accidents ?

MR. ASSHETON CROSS, in reply, said, that the accounts he had received represented the case to be absolutely hopeless. As, therefore, there would probably be a coroner's inquest held on the case in a few days, he did not think it necessary to institute any official inquiry into the circumstances.

VOL. CCXL. [THIRD SERIES.]

RETIREMENT FROM THE ARMY.

QUESTION.

COLONEL NAGHTEN asked the Secre

tary of State for War, Whether, having regard to the Order in Council of the of the Royal Marines who entered the 15th January 1878, which allows officers Service before April 1, 1870, to count their services from eighteen to twenty years of age towards retirement or pension, he will consider the advisability of allowing officers of the Army who joined it before the abolition of purchase to enjoy the same privilege?

that, as the decision with respect to the COLONEL STANLEY, in reply, said, arrived at after careful consideration beRoyal Warrant last year had been tween the War Office and the Treasury, he was not prepared to consider the advisability of altering it.

GRAY'S INN ROAD.-QUESTION.

MR. J. G. HUBBARD asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether his attention has been directed to the dangerous insalubrity of

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some dwellings in Gray's Inn Road; and, I years' imprisonment without trial; and,
whether he can explain why apparently whether Her Majesty's Government
no steps are being taken for the recon- would use their good offices to ameliorate
struction of the adjacent district, al- the condition of these Christians so that
though a scheme for that purpose was their condition might in some degree
the very earliest among those which be assimilated to that of their non-
brethren in this
were suggested in pursuance of the conformist
provisions of the Artizans' Dwellings
Act?

try?

THE CHEFOO CONVENTION.

coun

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEMR. ASSHETON CROSS, in reply, QUER: I regret to say that my hou. said, that it was quite true that the part Friend the Under Secretary of State for of London referred to had been reported Foreign Affairs is still prevented by inanswer this upon by the medical authorities, and he disposition from being present. He has, could not conceive any worse place in the however, enabled me to whole of London. The scheme that was Question, and I have to say that no inoriginally presented by the officers of formation has been received at the the Metropolitan Board of Works was a Foreign Office respecting the persecution large and comprehensive one; but, un-in Russia of the sect referred to, and it fortunately, the Metropolitan Board of would not appear to be a matter in Works cut down that scheme, and pre- which Her Majesty's Government can sented to him such a mutilated scheme use their good offices. that he thought it utterly unworthy of its being passed into law, and he repudiated it. He had been told that during the last Session the Metropolitan Board, under one of their Improvement Acts, but not under the Artizans' Dwellings Act, obtained power to pull down one side of the Gray's Inn Road, which would remove some of the worst descriptions of the dwellings, and he understood that power was being exercised as speedily as possible. If the right hon. Gentleman wished to obtain any further information as to the action and intention of the Metropolitan Board of Works, he would refer him to the Chairman of that Board (Sir James M'Garel Hogg).

EVANGELICAL DISSENTERS IN RUSSIA.
QUESTION.

CAPTAIN PIM asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, If his attention has been called to an article in the "Globe" of the 8th instant, describing the sufferings and persecutions to which the Stundisli or Evangelical Dissenters are now subjected in Russia, and pointing

out

QUESTION.

MR. ALDERMAN W. M'ARTHUR asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether the Chefoo Convention, made by Sir Thomas Wade with the Chinese Government in September 1876, has been ratified by Her Majesty's Government; and, if so, why the Papers relating thereto have not been laid before Parliament; whether China has fulfilled in good faith her part of the Treaty, and opened the several ports promised therein; and, whether he is aware that great dissatisfaction prevails in China in consequence of the delay in carrying out the stipulations agreed upon by Her Majesty's Plenipotentiary?"

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER: I am informed that Her Majesty's Government have not yet formally approved of the whole of the arrangements concluded by Sir Thomas Wade. Some of its stipulations cannot come into operation without the concurrence of the other Treaty Powers. The Report of the Indian Government on the clauses relating to the opium trade are still under consideration by Her Majesty's Government, and they hope shortly to be able to announce the decision they have arrived at. The Chinese Government have opened the new trading ports in accordance with the terms of the Treaty, although the stipulations as to the posting of the Proalthough they had already suffered three clamations have not been fulfilled in

"That they had commenced operations in 1870, first by holding a prayer meeting in secret and then extending their influence openly, until at last whole parishes had joined the heterodox faith. For doing this and persisting in weaning the peasants from their orthodox belief in the holy images, saints, and candles, the prosecutor demanded that the three offenders should be exiled to the Mines of Siberia,"

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some parts of the country. Her Ma- | allowances to which the wives and chiljesty's Government are not aware that dren are entitled at the cost of the State, any great dissatisfaction prevails in and such other information on the subChina on the ground that the Conven-ject as may be of service to Guardians in tion has not been ratified.

GROCERS' LICENCES IN SCOTLAND.

QUESTION.

considering these applications?

MR. SCLATER-BOOTH: A Return is in preparation at the War Office, on the Motion, I believe, of my hon. Friend, which will give, as I understand, most of the information to which his Question refers. I have been in communication with the War Office on the subject, and information in a letter which will be sent propose to embody the particulars of that by the Local Government Board to an important Union in the Midland Coun

SIR ROBERT ANSTRUTHER asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether the Government are prepared to bring in any measure to carry out the recent recommendation of the Commission which reported upon the question of Grocers' Licences in Scot-ties, and I will take care that due publand? letter. licity is given to the terms of that

MR. ASSHETON CROSS, in reply, said, he saw no prospect, in the present state of Public Business, of being able to deal with the question of grocers' licences in Scotland by any legislation this Session.

MADAGASCAR.-QUESTION.

MR. ALEXANDER M'ARTHUR asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether, having regard to the injurious effects of the cheap importation of spirits, and especially of Mauritius rum, into Madagascar, Her Majesty's Government has had under consideration the expediency of consenting to a revision of the duties of those commodities by the Home authorities; and, whether any, and, if so, what steps, with the above object in view, have been taken by Her Majesty's consent in Madagascar?

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER, in reply, said, in the opinion of Lord Salisbury no object would be gained by altering the duties on the commodity, aud that it was manufactured in small quantities in Madagascar itself.

THE RESERVES.-QUESTION.

THE SOLWAY COMMISSIONERS.

QUESTION.

MR. PERCY WYNDHAM asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, If he would authorise the Solway Commissioners to make a Report; and, if he would lay such Report upon the Table of the House?

MR. ASSHETON CROSS, in reply, said, that the Commissioners had not yet finished their sittings; but he would lay on the Table any Papers respecting their inquiry with which he might be furnished.

DISTURBANCES IN IRELAND.

QUESTION.

MR. M'CARTHY DOWNING asked Mr. Attorney General for Ireland, Whether his attention has been given to the inquest held in the city of Cork on the body of Richard Andrews, who was killed by a shot fired by sub-constable John Roche on the 5th instant; and, if so, whether, having regard to the statement of the jury that they had agreed to a verdict finding the said John Roche MR. PELL asked the President of the and constable Guerin guilty of manLocal Government Board, Whether, in slaughter, upon which the said conorder to anticipate an inconsiderate ad- stables were taken into custody, and to dition to the number of paupers on the the fact that the said jury subsequently application of wives of men in the Re-handed to the coroner a verdict of justiserve Forces, he will circulate a statement of the sums of money their husbands may have been entitled to receive per annum in respect of their contract with the State, their estimated equivalent weekly wages, as well as the separation

fiable homicide, on which the said constables were released from custody, he will cause to be made a further investigation by the proper authorities?

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. GIBSON): I should say

that the matter was fully inquired into by the coroner, judging from the lengthened newspaper reports of the inquest referred to by the hon. Gentleman. However, I have given instructions that copies of the depositions taken before the coroner shall be furnished to me.

MALTA.-QUESTION,

SIR GEORGE BOWYER asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, What information has been received regarding recent manifestations of public feeling in Malta; and, what steps have been or are about to be taken in consequence thereof?

MOTIONS.

THE MILITARY FORCES OF THE CROWN.
RESOLUTION.

THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTON, in rising to move

"That, by the Constitution of this Realm, no Forces may be raised or kept by the Crown in time of peace, without the consent of ParliaCrown, excepting only such Forces as may be ment, within any part of the Dominions of the actually serving within Her Majesty's Indian Possessions,"

said Mr. Speaker, it is, of course, impossible for me, even if it were my desire, of the debate which may arise on the to attempt to fix any limit to the scope

Motion which I am about to submit to

SIR MICHAEL HICKS - BEACH: On May 15 the Governor of Malta telegraphed that there was great popular excitement and a demonstration against a Vote of £7,000 which he had proposed the House. The measure of the Governto the Council for drainage works which ment to which I shall have to advert, have for some time been in course of con- and which is the cause of my Motion, is struction and against any alteration of the taxation, and added that a deputa- character. It is one not only important one, no doubt, of the most important tion had waited on him asking for suspension of action pending a reply to the in itself, but it is one of a series of meaPetition to the House of Commons. He sures which form part of a policy which was reminded, in reply, that with regard the attention of the House, which has has already engaged, to a certain extent, to the taxation question all that had been at present desired was public discussion, already received discussion from the and that any proposals for a change in House, and which will probably, at some the law should stand over until his suc-ration. But the measure, taken by itself, future time, receive still further considecessor assumed the government next month, but that means must be provided to meet such portion of the cost of the drainage works now in progress as would be required during the present year. These works were undertaken because they were considered essential to the health both of the garrison and the civilian inhabitants. A large portion of their cost will fall on Imperial funds, and it is only right that the locality should bear its share. I may add that I do not gather from the Governor's telegram that any disturbance has occurred; but, of course, he will take all necessary measures for the preservation

of the

peace.

ORDERS OF THE DAY.

Ordered, That the Orders of the Day be postponed until after the Notice of Motion relating to the Military Forces of the Crown.-(Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer.)

irrespective of its being part of the policy of the Government, is of a most grave nature. It is a measure which raises lations between this country and our totally new questions concerning the reIndian Empire-which raises, probably, some of the most difficult questions connected with the problem of government in India. Compared with these considerations, I must admit that the issue to tion of the House is an extremely narrow one; and I confess I have purposely and intentionally thus narrowed its scope, partly because we have reason to believe that negotiations are at present going on of an extremely delicate character, and because we have very recently been informed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer that, in his opinion, a general discussion of the state of affairs in the East would not be for the interest of the public service; and that, after that intimation, I do not wish to be a party to raising such a discussion. I will also admit that I have endeavoured to narrow the scope of my Motion, because I think

which I am now about to ask the atten

"But, under any circumstances, I may frankly say that we should not have thought it our duty, even if we had foreseen that the matter would become public within so short a time, to have made a communication to Parliament with respect to it until the arrangements had been completed.”—[Ibid. 1436.]

Further, the Chancellor of the Exchequer said

very important step; but it is, at the same time, a step which, after all, when you come to regard what it is, is neither more nor less than a direction given by Her Majesty for the moving of a portion of Her Forces from one part of the ment which will undoubtedly come under the Empire to the other. And though it is a movenotice of Parliament, and over which Parliament holds the control which it holds over all movements of British Forces that of the right asked for the purpose-yet, so far as the order of withholding or challenging the Supplies given to Her Majesty's troops is concerned, it is an order strictly within the proper Constitutional Prerogative of the Crown, and one which Her Majesty has as much right to give as England to proceed to Gibraltar or Malta, or to order any portion of British troops now in anywhere else."-[Ibid. 1435.]

"There is no doubt whatever that this is a

that the issue itself which is raised in the Resolution is one of sufficient importance to merit full consideration and discussion upon its own merits, irrespective of any other consideration. Well, Sir, I need not detain the House at any length in vindicating the necessity for the Resolution I have brought before the House. It will not, I think, be denied that the claim put forward by the Government is very novel. I do not think it will be disputed that that claim, and the issue raised by my Resolution, are not simply issues of a technical character. It will, on the contrary, be admitted that they involve considerations of the greatest importance as affecting the relations hitherto existing between the Crown, Parliament, and the Army, and also the principles of financial control which Parliament has always maintained over every branch of the Administration. It will not be denied, I think, that, whatever may be the merits of the case, it is the duty of the Opposition, if the Opposition has any duties whatever it is the first duty of the Opposition fully to examine and call in question any novel claims of this description which may be put forward, so that if they are to be admitted and to become part of our Parliamentary system, they may become so only after full and sufficient consideration. The claim of the Government is understood to be that, by the Prerogative of the Crown, they are entitled to transfer troops raised in India, and not voted by Parliament, to be made use of in time of peace, in other

Dominions of the Crown. Lest there

claim of the Government, and it is that
claim which we deny. We contend, on
the other hand, that it is in India, and
in India only, that Forces can be raised
and maintained without the authority
annually given by Parliament; and that
when such Forces are transferred to any
part of Her Majesty's Dominions, they
which govern and regulate the other
have to ask the House to consider—and
Regular Forces of the Crown.
I will do it as briefly as I can-the
relations between the Crown, Parlia-
general principles which govern the

That is what I understand to be the

would come under those conditions

I will

should be any mistake upon this point, I may, perhaps, be allowed to read what was stated on the subject by the Chan-ment, and the Army; and I will ask cellor of the Exchequer. In answer to a Question from me, the Chancellor of the Exchequer said

"I can only say that the decision of Her Majesty's Government to order a certain number of Indian troops to Malta was one arrived at some time ago, but that it was not thought necessary, nor is it according to practice, that such a decision should be communicated to Parliament."-[3 Hansard, ccxxxix. 1421.]

them to consider, further, the exceptions to those general principles which are made in the case of India, and which conditions ought to govern the transfer of Indian Forces when they are removed to other Possessions of Her Majesty outside that country. There is no Member of this House who is ignorant that, since the Revolution, Parliament has always claimed a special control over the Regular Forces of the Crown, altoThat appears to me to bear out the state-gether separate from that financial ment I made that they claim to employ these troops without the consent of Parliament as a Prerogative of the Crown. The Chancellor of the Exchequer made this still more clear the same evening, when he said—

control which it exercises over every branch of the Administration. That control has been asserted by three distinct guarantees. It has been asserted by the annual voting by this House of the number of men to be maintained, [First Night.]

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