HC Deb 28 July 1874 vol 221 cc906-7

Bill considered in Committee.

(In the Committee.)

Clause 1 agreed to.

Clause 2 (Power to Lord Lieutenant to fix revised salaries for Constabulary force.)

MAJOR O'GORMAN

moved that the Chairman report Progress.

SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH

hoped the hon. and gallant Gentleman would withdraw his Motion. 'He (Sir Michael Hicks-Beach) did not mean to press the opposed clauses of the Bill on the present occasion.

MR. BUTT

said, there was no disposition to oppose the progress of the Bill, and, for his part, he was anxious to sea it pass; but there were clauses in it which he was desirous to see amended.

MR. M'CARTHY DOWNING

pointed out some details of the Bill which he thought objectionable.

SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH

adverted to want of a proper scale of retiring pensions for the officers and men of the constabulary, and urged the necessity of passing the Bill in reference to them through Committee.

MAJOR O'GORMAN

said, he should like to know from the right hon. Gentleman what the salaries of those officers were?

SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH

said, the salaries of the superior officers were fixed by the Treasury, and therefore were not specified in the Bill.

MAJOR O'GORMAN

said, he wanted to know what was the reason the right hon. Baronet did not disclose to the Committee what the salaries of the officers of the constabulary were. The Lords of the Treasury, who got £5,000 a-year, had their salaries proclaimed, and why should the public not know what the salaries of the police officers were?

Motion, by leave, withdrawn.

Clause 2 agreed to.

Clause 4 (Forfeiture of pension for misconduct).

MR. M'CARTHY DOWNING

moved the omission of the clause.

MAJOR O'GORMAN

strongly opposed the clause, and moved that the Chairman do report Progress.

Motion negatived.

Question put, "That the Clause stand part of the Bill."

The Committee divided:—Ayes 104; Noes 24: Majority 80.

Remaining clauses agreed to. Bill reported; as amended, to be considered To-morrow.