service of the non-commissioned officers | Savings Banks made under the authority and rank and file, exclusive of band and drummers, of the infantry regiments at present under orders, or that would be despatched to reinforce Her Majesty's Forces at the Cape of Good Hope and Zululand? COLONEL STANLEY: There would be no objection to giving the Return which my hon. and gallant Friend asks for, could it be given without any interference with the actual duties which these regiments are engaged in prior to their embarking. COLONEL MURE said, these Returns could be made up after the regiments had been embarked. COLONEL STANLEY : That is the only reservation I want to make. SOUTH AFRICA-CAPE COLONYTHE MOUNTED POLICE. QUESTION. LORD RANDOLPH CHURCHILL asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether it is true that persons who had contracted to serve the Cape Government in a civil capacity in the "Mounted Police" have been by a Colonial Law compelled, without the option of discharge, to serve in a military capacity in a force called the "Mounted Rifles"; whether those who respectfully refused to submit to this arrangement were not tried by court martial and sentenced to six months' imprisonment and hard labour, which involves their working on the roads of the Colony with common convicts; and, whether Her Majesty's Government propose to take any action in the matter? SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH, in reply, said, he was unable within reasonable limits to give an answer to the Question. If the noble Lord would wait for two or three days until the next volume of the Cape Papers was issued, he would find all the facts in the Cor respondence that had taken place on the subject. POST OFFICE SAVINGS BANKS. QUESTION. MR. WAIT asked the Postmaster General, Whether he will consent to alter the regulations of the Post Office of the Act 24 Vic. c. 14, so as to allow depositors to deposit to the extent of £100 per year, instead of £30 as at present, and to extend the total amount which may stand in each depositor's name to £300, instead of £150 as at present? LORD JOHN MANNERS, in reply, said, that it was the intention of the Government to introduce a measure respecting Postal Savings Banks, and that it would contain new provisions on the subject referred to by the hon. Member. THE TREATY OF BERLIN THE GREEK FRONTIER.-QUESTIONS. MR. WAIT asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, If Her Majesty's Government have taken action in support of the Despatch dated 21st October 1878, addressed by the Minister of France for Foreign Affairs to the Turkish Government, in reference to a rectification of the Greek frontier; and, the House that this important object, whether he is in a position to inform recommended by the Treaty of Berlin, is in a fair way of being carried out? MR. BOURKE: Sir, there is no despatch at the Foreign Office as to the Greek Frontier such as that described in the Question of my hon. Friendnamely, a despatch of October 21 from the French Government to the Turkish Government. With regard to the second Question, I have to state that negotiations in conformity with the Treaty of Berlin are now being carried on. SIR CHARLES W. DILKE: I hope the hon. Gentleman will allow me to put a Question arising out of his answer. Do I understand him to say there is no French despatch of October 21 in regard to the Greek claims, or merely that there is no French despatch to Turkey? MR. BOURKE: I answered the Ques tion as it was put down, and any other course would have misled the House. My answer to the hon. Gentleman is strictly correct. The Question of the hon. Baronet is totally different. The despatch mentioned is a Circular addressed to the Powers, which will be found in the Papers. To show how wrong I should be to give a different answer, I will remind the House that the Turkish Government, which, ac- | medical Reports relating to the recording to my hon. Friend, was ad- appearance of the disease should be dressed by the French Government, is, collated and presented to the House. in fact, the only Power concerned which has not been so addressed. THE MEDICAL ACTS-THE MEDICAL COUNCIL.-QUESTION. MR. WADDY asked the Vice President of the Council, Whether the Government has received from the General Medical Council the Report on the working and constitution of the Council promised in July last; if not, whether the Government has any hope of soon receiving it, and will consent (in deference to the wish for a change in the constitution of the General Medical Council) to postpone legislation for amending the Medical Acts till this part of the subject can be included? LORD GEORGE HAMILTON: Sir, the Government have not received at present any communication from the Medical Council on the subject of the working of the Council. The Medical Council referred the subject to its Executive Council, and since that time there has been no meeting of the Council. The amendment of the Medical Acts as regards education, foreign diplomas, education of midwives, and other important matters contained in the Government Bill of last year, can proceed without prejudicing the subject of the Medical Council; but, as before stated, the Government desire to obtain further information before coming to a decision, and propose to constitute an inquiry into the subject of the constitution of the Medical Council. THE PLAGUE IN RUSSIA-MEDICAL REPORTS.-QUESTION. MR. WADDY asked the President of the Local Government Board, in view of the recent appearance of plague in Europe, Whether the several Reports presented to the Local Government Board since the reappearance of the disease in Eastern Countries, and printed in successive Reports of its medical officers, could be brought together and printed as one paper for the information of Members? MR. SCLATER-BOOTH, in reply, said, he had given directions that the COLONEL MURE asked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether he will lay upon the Table in their absolute entirety, every line of the Correspondence which has taken place between the authorities, Civil and Military, Imperial, or Colonial, in regard to the question of reinforcements of every arm for the Army in South Africa? THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER: Sir, there has been every disposition, on the part of my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for the Colonies and for War, to give the whole of the information in the possession of the Government with regard to this subject. My right hon. Friend the Colonial Secretary, in the Papers which he has already laid upon the Table, has not only given the usual official Correspondence, but has, in several instances, given personal and private and confidential telegrams such as are not usually laid before the House. He tells me he will look again, to be sure that he has not omitted anything; and my right hon. and gallant Friend the Secretary of State for War will do the same. COLONEL MURE: I beg to say that I referred not only to the past, but also to the future. THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER: Of course I intend my answer to apply, not only to what has been presented, but to the Correspondence that has since taken place and will take place. POOR LAW (IRELAND)—REMOVAL OF IRISH POOR.-QUESTION. MR. O'REILLY asked the President of the Local Government Board, Whether he intends to introduce any measure this Session to remove the evils attending the removal of Irish poor, which this House resolved required redress? MR. SCLATER-BOOTH: Sir, I cannot answer this Question without expressing my sense of the loss which the House has sustained by the death of the hon. Member for Cork (Mr. M'Carthy Downing), who took so much interest in it. On the last occasion, when I made proposals in the form of a Bill intended to deal with the particular question of removals to Ireland, the House considered that the proposal ought to be extended to England and Scotland. Considering the recent alterations in the general law with regard to removal and settlement, I am not in a position, at this moment, to make further proposals, except thisthat I think it would be useful to refer the subject to a Select Committee, with special reference to the case of removals in Ireland. My hon. Friend the Secretary to the Local Government Board will, in a few days, move for such a Committee. INDIA-REVENUE AND EXPENDI- MR. O'REILLY rose to Order, and protested against the hon. Gentleman putting a series of Questions of which he had given no Notice. LORD GEORGE HAMILTON: Sir, as regards the first part of the Question, the registration is intended to apply to all those who sell dairy produce, except, of course, private farms and private dairies. HIGHWAYS AND LOCOMOTIVES (AMENDMENT) ACT, 1878.-QUESTION. SIR HENRY JACKSON asked the President of the Local Government Board, Whether the Local Government Board have prepared any model byerities in framing bye-laws in accordance laws for the guidance of county authowith Clause 26 of "The Highways and Locomotives (Amendment) Act, 1878;' and, if not, whether it is intended to prepare any such model bye-laws? MR. SCLATER-BOOTH, in reply, GENERAL SIR GEORGE BALFOUR Government Board to frame model byesaid, it was the intention of the Local asked the Under Secretary of State for laws for the guidance of the county auIndia, To lay upon the Table Summaries thorities as soon as sufficient experience of the Revenues and Expenditure, show-of the suggestions of those authorities ing those of the actuals for 1877-8, of had been gained. the regular Estimate for 1878-9, and of the Budget for 1879-80 ? MR. E. STANHOPE: We have not yet received the figures to which the hon. and gallant Gentleman refers; but he will have observed from what was stated yesterday that the Budget is likely to be published in India about the ACT, 1878-SECTION 34 NATIONAL EDUCATION (IRELAND)— QUESTION. MR. MELDON asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, Whether the subject of the grievances and claims of the Irish National Teachers has received the consideration of the Government; and, if so, what means the Government propose to adopt to such grievances and to satisfy the claims of the teachers? remove MR. PAGET asked the Vice President of the Council, Whether the regisMR. J. LOWTHER: Yes, Sir; the tration of dairymen and all other pro-matter has been under the consideravisions of the Order of Council of the tion of the Government, and we propose 4th instant, which every local authority to introduce a Bill on the subject? in Great Britain is ordered to enforce, are to apply to all ordinary farm dairies in rural districts? He also wished to know who was to decide whether the ventilation and water supply referred to in the sub-section were all that they should be? He also asked the noble Lord to state his definition of "persons carrying on trade;" would it apply to private dairies ? FLOODS AND CONSERVANCY BOARDS -LEGISLATION.-QUESTION. MR. CHAPLIN asked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, If the Government intend during this Session to introduce any measure dealing with the question of floods and conservancy boards? ORDERS OF THE DAY. THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHE-lution. This objection was at that time QUER, in reply, said, that the Presi- not without force; but it was one that dent of the Local Government Board and was no longer valid, because at present the Lord President of the Council had they were on the eve of a General Elecbeen in communication on the subject, tion. It was not a Party question, for and a Bill had been prepared which it had been introduced by the Conservawould be introduced shortly. tive Party themselves, under the leadership of the present Prime Minister in 1867. The issue before the House was this, whether Ireland was or was not to be governed by equal laws with England? Since the Resolution was last before the House there had been an expression of opinion throughout this country in the Conservative Press that the Government had not the slightest excuse for further delaying a settlement, and up to the present moment the Conservative Press in England had advocated the assimilation of the SUPPLY.-COMMITTEE. Order for Committee read. Motion made, and Question proposed, "That Mr. Speaker do now leave the Chair." BOROUGH FRANCHISE (IRELAND). MR. MELDON, in rising to call at-borough franchise of the three countention to the restricted nature of the Borough Franchise in Ireland; and to move "That the_restricted nature of the Borough Franchise in Ireland as compared with that existing in England and Scotland is a subject deserving the immediate attention of Parliament, with the view of establishing a fair and just equality of the Franchise in the three Countries,' said, that this was the sixth time, during the present Parliament, he had risen to ask the House to do a simple act of justice to Ireland. He appealed to Her Majesty's Government to extend to Ireland a privilege which had been extended to England and Scotland in 1867. Was it consistent with truth and honour for them to deny this privilege to Ireland, and yet, at the same time, to lay it down as one of their principles that they extended to Ireland the same rights that were possessed by England and Scotland? When Irish questions were brought forward they were usually met by the reply that claims were being made for Ireland which had not been granted to the people of England; but, in this case, the facts he desired to lay before the House would show that it was totally inconsistent with those declarations to maintain the present law of borough franchise. The present time was very opportune for a settlement of this question. When the matter was brought forward at the commencement of the present Parliament, its supporters were told that its settle tries, and hopes had been held out to nothing was being done for Ireland, | Kingdom should be deprived of the poli and under those circumstances he was justified in saying that a policy of exasperation had been adopted, and that the principle of conciliation had been thrown to the winds. The present Prime Minister, when introducing the borough franchise for England, laid it down that the franchise was the political right of every citizen who was able to keep a house above his head and to assist in the support of his poorer brethren? What was there in that principle which did not apply equally to Ireland? He challenged anyone to find anything in the circumstances of the two countries that could justify the difference in the application of the principle. The qualification for the borough franchise in Ireland was the occupation of a house rated at not less than £4; but, owing to the mode of valuation, a house rated at £4 in Ireland would be worth £6 in England, so that there was even a greater difference between the two systems than at first appeared. The difference between the electoral condition of England and Scotland and Ireland was very striking. Thus the 31 boroughs in Ireland, having a populalation of 866,356, had only 54,218 electors, between them returning 39 Members; while Glasgow, with a population of 470,456, had 60,582 electors; Liverpool, with a population of 493,405, had 61,143 electors; and Manchester, with a population of 379,374, had 62,813 voters. The boroughs of England, having a population of 10,600,000, returned 297 Members by 1,539,000 votes; and those of Scotland, with a population of 479,391, returned 26 Members by 203,364 votes. Further, though the number of electors had been trebled in England between 1868 and the present time, the entire increase in Ireland during the same period was something less than 20,000. All this spoke volumes in favour of the claim which he put before the House, and made the strength of his case overwhelming. What distinction was there between the three countries to justify this difference between the proportion of electors to population? The Irish people were quite and, indeed, in matters of politics, even more intelligent than similar classes in this country. What reason, then, was there that the citizen in one portion of the United tical rights held by citizens in other portions? Again, by what process of reasoning could it be made just that an Irishman enjoying a vote at Liverpool should be disfranchised by the simple act of removing to the other side of the Channel? The number of county and borough electors in England and Scotland bore an entirely different proportion to that of Ireland. In England and Scotland the large majority of the electors were in the boroughs, while in Ireland the number of borough electors was insignificant as compared with those in the counties. He did not know any reason why this should be so. It had been said that to introduce household suffrage into the Irish boroughs would bring about a change in that country which might become dangerous; but no danger had resulted in this country from the change effected by the Reform Act of 1867, under which the number of the borough electors had been tripled. He was at a loss to conceive what there was to be said on the other side of that question. The question had been discussed five times in that House; but he could not discover any arguments which he had to answer. It might be urged that his proposal would necessitate a re-distribution of seats. Well, he was not terrified by that suggestion. He was perfectly prepared to meet a re-distribution of seats. He was for giving political power to the great mass of the people irrespective of whether they would support Members on one side of the House or on the other. The present Conservative Government said they were returned by the votes of the English working classes. If so, the extension of the franchise in England had operated for their advantage. He did not, however, agree in the necessity of a re-distribution of seats, because at present they had appointed a Commission for extending the boundaries of boroughs in Ireland. It might be said that they should delay the extension of the franchise until the boundaries of boroughs had been extended; but he maintained that the two things were quite distinct from, and independent of, each other. Let them extend the boundaries of boroughs as much as they pleased; but that was no reason for putting off the extension of the franchise. In England they did not wait |