IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

New Zealander, Volume 9, Issue 792, 16 November 1853, Page 3

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

The India Bill.

The various phases of the India question, as they whirl in rapid motion through the mazes of the legislative machinery, only manifest by their complexity the folly of legislation so exotically forced in its growth, Their vast importance in detail might deter any body of men, anxious to deal justly with the rights and interests of 150 millions of their fellow-men, from disposing of matters so momentous on the spur of the moment. Only look at the nature of topics which the Indian discussion has elicited night after night. The recognition of religious distinctions in framing laws for the natives of India, the powers and privileges of the Board of Control, the emoluments of the Governor-General and Coinmander-in-Chicf, the exercise of patronage on the part of the Directors, opening of Haileybury and Addiscombe Colleges to public competition : these points were all severally disposed of in one evening—the 21st of July. Again, on the following day, the India Bill brought up its shoal of topics—the functions of the Secret Committee, and of the President of the Board of Control—of the Directors and the GovernorGeneral, and the power of each over either—electoral qualifications in East India Stock—nonemployment of natives, —and, in short, an endless quantity, of unedifying, yet extremely m nnentous, details. Many amendments to the Bill have been proposed, but the greater number unsuccessfully. Air. Vernon Smith was, however, successful in getting the salary of the President of the Board of Control raised from £3,500 to £5,000 a yeax-—the same amount as that of the three principal Secretaries of State. Sir John Pakiugton has been fortunate enough to pass a clause, abolishing the monopoly of salt in India. The clause was opposed by the Government, and by the East India Direct! n, as leaving a void in the Indian Exchequer of £1,500,000 per annum—but ultimately carried by ten votes. In the House of Lords on Friday, August 5, Karl Granville moved the second reading of the India Bill. The Earl of Kllenborough said he did not intend to oppose the second reading. He regretted that, after having seen three India Bills, he was not destined to sec the complete reconstruction of India, and to behold the Government founded on principles which afforded a prospect of happiness to her people, and of grandeur and honor to England. Lord Alonteagle Slid, that this was the first instance, in his x’ecollection, in which both Houses of Parliament had appointed committees to enquire into a complicated question, and then had been suddenly summoned to rush into legislation before either of those committees had pi’onounced an opinion. The present Bill would complicate, instead of simplify the administration of India, and he should feet it his duty, in committee, to propose several amendments, which lie considered essential to the efficiency of the measure. After some further discussion, the Bill was read a second time without a division.

Tin Government Bill respecting transportation, which has passed the House of Lords, has been printed by* order of the House of Commons. Since it was noticed in the Times a new clause has been added by the Lord Chancellor, in committe?, the object of which is, that her Majesty* may* grant licenses to be at large to convicts under sentence of transportation; the holder of the license is not to be imprisoned by reason of his sentence, and if the license is revoked, the convict may be apprehended and committed to prison. By the Bill as it now* stands, penal punishment is to be awarded in the cases of persons liable to transportation for fourteen y’ears. The new law is to take effect from the Ist September next. Government Plan for Jamaica. In the House of Ctmuons, August 4, Lord J. Russell stated the intentions of the Government respecting the colony of Jamaica. They* id not purpose to suspend the representative constitution in the colony', but to induce, if possible, the Assembly'and the Council to act in harmony. They proposed, in the first place, that there should be a permanent Act, containing grants for those officers to whom it was deemed fit that permanent salari s should be given; secondly*, that the Assembly should make no grant of money’, except upon the initiative of a representative of the Crown, and that the officers of the Crown, should bo responsible for the expenditure of the money’. On the other hand it was proposed to endeavour to place the finance of Jamaica upon a sounder footing. The public debt of the colony amounted to £.500,000, upon which an interest of six per cent, was paid; and it w’as proposed that the Imperial Government should give a guarantee for the interest of the debt, a sinking fund being provided for its extinction. Another guarantee was proposed. The House of Assembly’ had insisted upon their right to make a reduction of salaries, which the Council had regarded as a breach of faith. It appeared to the Government that this quarrel might be settled by the grant of a compensation, which might induce the pi-esent holders to relinquish their offices, which could he filled by- other persons at reduced salaries. This would require £50,000, which sum the Government proposed should also be guaranteed by this country, making the aggregate sum guaranteed £550,000. There was one other point. Sir Charles Grey’ had already held his office as Governor, which he had discharged with signal ability, for the lull term ; and the Duke of Newcastle was of opinion that Sir Henry Barkly, who had been many y’ears Governor of Guiana, would be the best person to succeed him, and he had accordingly’ recommended Her Majesty to appoint Sir Harry to that office. A question would arise, however, as to his salary’, which the Government considered should not be less than £SOOO, and, to avoid dispute, they’ proposed to vote £3,500 towards making up that sum for three years.—Sir J. Pakington expressed his satisfaction at the proposals of Government, as did several other members.—Mr. Horsfall regretted that the noble lord had not given a distinct answer to the question put to him with regard to the enlistment of Coolies in the West India Islands. He should have been pleased to hear a declar ition from the noble lord that orders had been sent to the officers in these colonies not to adopt a course so injurious to the interest of the colonists. He then read an extract from a letter, complaining of the hardship inflicted upon the colonists by’ the enlistment of Coolies. He trusted that the Government would direct their attention to the subject, and send out such instructions that no |douht could possibly remain on the subject. The colonists in the West India islands were at present encountering great difficulties in competing against slave labour, and it was the duty’ of the Government not to throw obstacles in their way.

New Factory Bret. Palmerston’s factory bill is being pushed I through its stages, with the view, no doubt, of stifling agitation in the manufacturing districts. The measure has the merit of brevity; it only contains six clauses. The preamble declares it expedient that children should not be employed in factories at times during which young persons and women may not now by law be employed therein. The provisions of the clauses may be briefly summed up. No child is to be employed before six in the morning, nor after six in the evening, nor in winter beyond from seven to seven o’clock; children arc not to be employed in reco vexing lost time after seven in the evening; their hours of employment are not to be extended under this act; and the act is to be construed as one act with previous factory bills recited in the preamble. Ecclesiastical Bills. The Spectator of August 6, has the following :—Ecclesiastical arrangements have been the most prominent subjects to vary the drier work of forwarding routine business in Parliament; but ecclesiastical questions are defended till next session, or to some other session. The Bill promoted by the Primate and other bishops of both parties in Convocation, for the better regulation of the Church in the Colonies, by extending self-government to the members of the Church, has been postponed, chiefly in co s quence of alarms raised at its supposed aggression on Co’onial independenc eand ostensibly on (lie score of “ this late period of the session.” The Missionary Bishops Bill, another measure emanating from the same authority, to appoint Bishops unattached, was rejected on suppositious grounds, not unlike those that prompted the rejection of its companion : with a colourable reas-m in its loose phrasing, it was regarded as apian for sending out legates a latere, to carry on the proselytising activities of the Church of England in partibus: however, “ the late period of the session” was still the excuse. Lord Blanford’s Bill for the better management of Episcopal and Capitular Estates, by banding them over to duly-appointed lay officers, has been postponed on account of “ difficulties” that deter those who quite agree in its principles. Mr. Fhinn’s motion for a Committee to inquire into the means of securing their right of habeas corpus to the inmates of nunneries is also !put off till that season of good intentions.

Tub Attorneys and the Press. —Lord Grovenor’s philanthropic endeavour to lighten the annual burden upon Attorneys and Solicitors lias been defeated by a majority of 116 to 102. The Chancellor of the Exchequer was facetious upon his victims and the house enjoyed the joke. One circumstance had an adverse influence, namely, a compromise between Mr. Milner Gibson and Mr. Gladstone, by which the latter sifrrendered the whole of the advertisement duty in consideration of the former assisting to retain the reduced attorney’s certificate tax. It will thus be seen that the claims of the press have at length been recognised. Liberated from the thraldom of the eighteen-penny duty, the newspapers will derive great benefit from this repeal, and not only w 11 the public find an immediate pecuniary gain in the general reduction of advertising charges but a great literary competition which must naturally arise out of this remission. The New Stamp Acts. —On Friday the two Stamp Acts which received the Royal Assent on Thursday, were printed. The last Act (chapter 53) came into force on its passing, and the first Act (chapter 59) will not take effect until from tml after the 10th of October. By the Act 16th and 17th Victoria, chapter 63 (Stamp Duties, No. 2), certain duties ai’e repealed as set forth in the schedule and other duties granted in lieu thereof, which new duties are to bo under the care of the Commissioners of the Inland Revenue. Supplements published with newspapers to be free, and two supplements printed on one sheet of paper to be one half-penny. An allowance to be made for newspaper stamps ofi’hand. The duties on advertisements are repealed from and after the passing of the Act, which took place on Thursday, when it received the Royal assent. In the Act c lapter 63, there are 11 sections, and a schedule. This statute will not come into operation until the 11th of October, It repeals certain duties, and others are granted, By this law receipt stamps, given for or upon payment of money amounting to 21. or upwards will bear a stamp of one penny. It is provided that the duties of one penny, by this Act granted on receipts and on draughts or orders for the payment of money respectively, may he denoted either by a stamp impressed on the paper whereon any such instrument is written, or by an adhesive stamp affixed thereto, and the commissioners of Inland Revenue shall provide stamps of both descriptions for the purpose of denoting the said duties. —Liverpool Standard, August 9th.