HL Deb 05 July 1859 vol 154 cc615-6

Moved, That the Bill be now read 3a

LORD STANLEY OF ALDERLEY

called attention to the fact that the preamble recited that certain additional agreements and arrangements had been made with the Government. He had been given to understand that an engagement had been entered into by the late Government to give 8 per cent on a capital of £600,000, amounting to a guarantee of £48,000; while other parties had offered to do it on terms which would not involve an expense of more than £20,000 a year. This seemed an improvident arrangement, and should not have been entered into without the sanction of Parliament.

EARL GRANVILLE

said, the late Government were more responsible for the Bill than the present; but, at the same time, he knew of no reason why the Bill should not be allowed to pass, and he hoped, therefore, that the noble Lord would not press his objections to it. He supposed the late Government had been actuated by the consideration that the Company had agreed to relinquish their exclusive right of laying cables on the shores of Newfoundland.

LORD MONTEAGLE

thought that a very important general principle was involved in the Bill. Before the Act introduced by Mr. Gladstone when Chancellor of the Exchequer, it was competent for the Government to have paid the expenses of any telegraphic line or packet service out of the gross revenue without applying to Parliament; but that Act had made a considerable alteration in this respect. The late Government, however, he was informed, had entered into a contract by which an expense of £70,000 a year would be incurred on account of the Irish packet service without the assent of Parliament being obtained. He had moved for a paper which he presumed was now before Parliament, which would show that annually a sum of not less than £1,000,000 had been disposed of by Government for contracts of this description, without any approval or any knowledge of Parliament in the first instance. This was a matter which required the most serious attention of the Legislature.

LORD COLCHESTER

said, that the noble Lord's complaint had been remedied by a supplementary contract.

EARL GRANVILLE

said, he might state for the satisfaction of the noble Lord and the House that the whole subject was under the consideration of the Government, and would shortly be brought before Parliament.

THE EARL OF ELLENBOROUGH

asked whether it was true as reported—and he trusted that it was—that the Government intended to establish a telegraphic communication with Gibraltar without the intervention of any company?

EARL GRANVILLE

said, the subject was under the consideration of the Government.

THE EARL OF DERBY

ventured to urge upon the Government the necessity of an early decision on the subject, as otherwise it would be quite impossible to pass a Bill this Session. The late Government regarded the subject as one of great urgency—so great that they thought it their duty to make provision for the manufacture of a certain length of cable. No steps, however, had been taken for laying down the cables. If Her Majesty's present Government intended to proceed with the work, they ought to do so without delay.

THE DUKE OF SOMERSET

said, it was desirable that further information should be obtained on the subject.

Motion agreed to.

Bill read 3a accordingly (with the Amendments), and passed, and sent to the Commons.