SECOND READING. (Hansard, 14 March 1857)

§ MR. HENLEY
said, he observed that the Bill, as reprinted, contained some important changes. Two new clauses had been added. Would the hon. Gentleman the under Secretary for War explain the nature of them?

§ MR. FREDERICK PEEL
said, that the greater part of the alterations that had been made in the Bill were of a military character, and had been approved by His Royal Highness the General Commanding in Chief. There was one alteration, however, which he might mention, and which had reference to billeting in Scotland. In the case of Scotland, private houses were liable to have soldiers billeted upon them, and great objections had been made to that system, which was considered to be a grievance and oppression which ought to be remedied. A Resolution was passed to that effect during the course of last Session, and the present law had been amended by striking out the provisions with regard to Scotland, and extending the provisions which now applied to England to the whole of Great Britain.

§ MR. W. EWART
said, he thought it would be well if the military department of the Government would consider the propriety of placing soldiers in barracks altogether—a system which would conduce very much to the good order of towns. He was much pleased with the provisions of the Bill which altered the system of billeting upon private houses in Scotland.

§ MR. G. DUNCAN
said, he would beg to offer his best thanks to the hon. Gentleman (Mr. Peel) for the altered provisions of the Bill, but he did not think that even now Scotland had been placed upon a fair level with England. In Scotland the publichouses and hotels were on a far less extensive scale than in England, and afforded very insufficient accommodation. He and some other gentlemen in Dundee had a conversation with the noble Lord the Secretary for War when his Lordship was in Dundee some time since, and they repre- 2309 to him the inconvenience of any system of billeting which quartered soldiers on individuals while there were barracks in which the military could be accommodated. There was in the town of Dundee a barrack which had not been ocupied for the last fifty years, and yet recruiting parties had been billeted on private individuals. The noble Secretary for War had promised to give his attention to the matter, and he (Mr. Duncan) trusted that it would not be lost sight of by the Government.

§ SIR WILLIAM CODRINGTON
said, he thought that it was highly desirable that some provision should be made for the permanent quartering of the troops.

§ MR. PACKE
said, that the publicans throughout the country were considerably aggrieved at the increase in the number of hotels in which spirits were not sold, and which were consequently exempt from billeting. These temperance hotels had increased to a great extent, and, with the exception of selling spirits, were in all respects publichouses. The publicans contended, and he thought rightly, that both classes of houses should be placed upon the same footing.