§ 7. £9,068, Supplementary for County Courts.
§ 8. £326, Supplementary, for Revising Barristers, England.
§ 9. £3,400, Supplementary, for Reformatory and Industrial Schools, Great Britain.
(10.20.) ADMIRAL HELD (Sussex, Eastbourne)I desire to call attention to the question of the Reformatory and Industrial School Ships. There are 18 of these vessels, and I wish to draw attention to the absurd and mischievous system of inspection which exists.
(10.21.) SIR U. KAY-SHUTTLE-WORTH (Lancashire, Clitheroe)I desire to point out that the number of children in industrial schools goes on increasing, and I am anxious to know what steps are being taken to press forward the Bill on this matter. I hope some assurance will be given to Members on both sides of the House who served on, the Royal Commission that the Government intend on an early day to proceed with the Bill. I would suggest to the Home Secretary whether it would not be better to introduce the Bill in this House rather than in the House of Lords? A Bill on the subject was introduced in the other House last year and went before the Standing Committee on Law, but it was cruelly murdered by its own parents after having been amended, to some extent, by the Committee. I think, as one of the Commissioners, I have a right to urge the Government to pass a Bill. The subject is pressing, as this Vote is increasing from year to year, and there are many reforms needed, such as the substitution, in suitable cases, of the system of boarding out for that of confining children in industrial schools.
§ (10.23.) THE HOME SECRETARY (Mr. MATTHEWS,) Birmingham, EastI can assure the right hon. Gentleman 1232 that I have this matter very much at heart. I certainly have turned over in my own mind the alternative of bringing in the Bill in this House, but I am convinced that the best plan would be to follow the course of last year and introduce the Bill in the House of Lords. The Bill is quite ready, and will be introduced without delay.
§ Vote agreed to.
§ 10. £630, Supplementary, for the Register House, Edinburgh.
§ 11. £1,205, Supplementary, for the Crofters' Commission.
§ (10.25.) SIR G. CAMPBELLI do not think we can fairly object to the items of this Vote; but, before it is agreed to, I should like to take the opportunity of asking that we should have the latest information possible in regard to the condition of the crofters. For my own part, I never shall be satisfied with the way in which the crofter plan has been carried out.
THE CHAIRMANThe hon. Gentleman cannot enter into the general question on this Vote. He can only discuss the supplementary additions.
§ Vote agreed to.