Lords Sitting of 1 April 1879

MINUTES.
PUBLIC BILLS—First Beading—Local Courts of Bankruptcy (Ireland) * (40); Omnibus Regulation * (41).
Second Reading—Drainage and Improvement of Lands (Ireland) Provisional Order Confirmation * (32).
Third Reading—Oyster and Mussel Fisheries Order (Blackwater, Essex) * (29), and. passed.

ARMY—BRIGADE DEPOTS.

  ADDRESS FOR A RETURN.
  THE EARL OF GALLOWAY,pursuant to Notice, moved—
  "That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty for a Return of the sum total expended in pay and allowances to officers in the Army holding the appointment of Colonel-in-command of a 'Sub-district' or 'Brigade Depôt' from the 1st of April 1878 to the 31st of March 1879."
  The noble Earl gave Notice that it was his intention shortly after Easter to bring before their Lordships the subject of the brigade depôt system.
  VISCOUNT BURYobjected to the Return in its present form; but said that if the noble Earl would consent to an alteration of his Motion, he would not object to the information being given.
  THE EARL OF GALLOWAYhaving assented,
  Return of the total amount of pay and allowances of commanding officers of brigade depôts from April 1878 to April 1879, and also the amount of pension to which these officers would have been entitled if they had retired instead of being thus employed.—(The Lord Stewart of Garlies.)
  Address agreed to.

TRADE WITH THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

  MOTION FOR A RETURN.
  LORD COTTESLOE,in moving for
  "A Statement of the trade of the United Kingdom with the United States of America for the years 1873, 1874, 1875. 1876, 1877, and 1878, in. continuation of the annual statement of trade for the year 1877, as presented to Parliament in June 1878,"
  said, that it was very desirable that their Lordships should have before them full and correct information on that subject, which was one of the greatest interest both to the agricultural and commercial classes of the country. In

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  treating on the subject, he would refer to the last Annual Return of Exports and Imports of the United Kingdom, which showed that the balance of trade between this country and America had been unfavourable to England, and that while the exports had been falling off year by year, the imports had increased in a greater proportion. In 1877, the imports were £77,825,973, while the exports (British) were £16,376,814, showing a difference of four-fifths—namely, £61,449,159; or, taking exports (British and Colonial)—namely, £19,885,893, showing a difference of three-fourths, or £57,940,080, against this country. But, turning to a comparison of exports and imports in the four years from 1873 to 1877, it appeared that America had increased her exports to this country from £71,471,493 to £77,825,973; while her imports had fallen in the same period nearly A, from £33,574,664 to £16,376,814. He would especially call attention to the imports into America of cotton goods, which had fallen by½ glass, ¾ hardware, ½ iron, ⅔ tin,½ salt,½ silk goods, nearly⅔ paper,5/6; and woollen,⅔. On the other hand, turning to her exports, the increases had been:—Animals, from 340 in 1873 to 11,523 in 1877; bacon and hams, by value, from £5,191,901 to £5,916,077; beef, fresh, 1873, nil to 443,042 cwts., showing an increase of value of £1,203,997; butter, by value, from £199,639 to £920,561; cheese, by value, from £2,353,181 to £3,129,829; wheat, by value, from £12,938,848 to £13,583,543; maize, by value, from £3,814,125 to £8,225,437; meal and meal flour, by value, from £1,382,301 to£l,543,793;'hops, by value, from £46,740 to £557,650; and meat, preserved otherwise than by salting, by value, from £16,398 to £794,856. Seven other articles of agricultural produce might be extracted; but the above were sufficient to point out the effect produced on the farming interests of the country by these largo importations. It was useful to show by later Returns what the result of the last year's trade had been. Such information was necessary to enable all persons embarking their capital in trade and agriculture to know how to conduct their business, and justified him in asking for the Return of which he had given Notice. In drawing attention to the subject, it was not his intention to complain of Free
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  Trade. On that subject his opinions remained unchanged. If we did not require the several articles imported, we should not take them, and the welfare of all the working classes of the community was promoted. The only complaint was that Free Trade had been too successful. It had added vastly to the wealth of the country, and had introduced habits of luxury and increased expenditure into all ranks of society. If we could not compete with other countries in some articles of manufacture, we must direct our capital and labour into other channels. Still less should we resort to a war of Tariffs, or, as it was now called, to a "System of forced Reciprocity." Such a policy would be suicidal, and would be most injurious to the people of those countries who might adopt it. But be the result of our present system of freedom of trade what it might, it was well to know thoroughly how matters stood, and where the shoe pinched; and for producers to understand how it was that prices of agricultural produce had fallen in the markets of the United Kingdom.
  Moved for—
  Statement of the trade of the United Kingdom with the United States of America for the years 1873, 1874, 1875, 1876, 1877, and 1878, in continuation of the annual statement of trade for the year 1877, as presented to Parliament in June 1878.—(The Lord Cottesloe.)
  LORD HENNIKER: My noble Friend the noble Lord will not, I am sure, expect me to follow him on the subject which he has brought before the House with all his experience in such matters, particularly when I tell him that the Board of Trade have no objection to produce the Return he asks for. As I understand him, he wishes that the Blue Book which is published annually should be published as soon as possible, instead of at the end of the Session. If this cannot be done, that a separate Return, referring to the United States only, should be made. I hope he will not pledge me, or, rather, the Board of Trade, to produce this Return at any fixed period; for it is somewhat complicated, and, possibly, cannot be prepared at once. However, I can say this—that the Return will be laid on the Table as soon as possible.
  Motion agreed to.
  Return ordered to be laid before the House.

  LOCAL COURTS OF BANKRUPTCY (IRELAND) BILL [H.L.]
  A Bill for the establishment of Local Courts of Bankruptcy in Ireland—Was presented by The LORD CHANCELLOR; read 1a. (No. 40.)

  OMNIBUS REGULATION BILL [H.L.]
  A Bill for the regulation of Omnibus Traffic—Was presented by The Earl of REDESDALE; read 1a. (No. 41.)
  House adjourned at a quarter before Six o'clock, to Thursday next, half past Ten o'clock.