would have cause of regret if all these gate-money meetings ceased to exist; but I am not unnaturally jealous of the amusements of a free people being tampered with by small measures of this description. You do not know where you are to limit them. The noble Viscount who moved the second reading says no unlicensed racecourse should be allowed within 15 or 16 miles. When you get to 16 miles, you touch the historic race of this country-the Derby. That would place it in the power of the local magistrates of Epsom to put down that race at any moment they may see fit. That would be the effect if the Bill were so amended. I came to this House somewhat wavering as to the expediency of opposing this measure. I confidently anticipated hearing strong arguments in its favour; but every argument which I have heard tends directly against the Bill, and I must record my vote with the noble Lord who moved the Amendment. THE EARL OF MORLEY said, the noble Duke (the Duke of Richmond and Gordon) had urged as an argument against this Bill that it was impracticable to fix a limit within which it was to operate, and said that if such a measure was passed at all it must be applicable to the whole country. But he (the Earl of Morley) asked whether it had not in countless cases been found perfectly easy to define the exact space to which an Act of Parliament should apply? And why, therefore, should any special difficulty be experienced in the present case? This was not a question of racing or improving the breed of horses-it was really a question in the cause of law and order. The race-meetings to which it referred caused the dregs of the Metropolis to invade quiet neighbourhoods, and were, therefore, productive of great inconvenience to the inhabitants of those neighbourhoods. The Bill did not propose to prohibit these meetings absolutely; what it provided was that when a meeting of this kind was desired it should be necessary to satisfy Boards of Quarter Session that they would be respectably and quietly managed. He trusted that the Bill would be passed, and that the abominable meetings which were held in some quarters at the present time would be put an end to. LORD RIBBLESDALE said, he would venture to say that these gate-meetings were attended by a large number of the The Earl of Rosebery. very persons who were stated in the Bill to object to them. The noble Viscount who had introduced the Bill stated that magistrates at Quarter Sessions, before granting a licence for a race meeting, would have to satisfy themselves that the horses that would be engaged were of the highest class. He thought it would be adding very much to the onerous labours of magistrates to require them to perform such a duty as that. He knew that meetings such as these in the suburbs of London were very objectionable, and he should, therefore, vote for the second reading. THE EARL OF REDESDALE thought that the subject-matter of the Bill would be better left to the consideration and care of the Jockey Club. AND THE DUKE OF RICHMOND GORDON explained that the Stewards of the Jockey Club were willing to act upon any suggestion that might be made by the Home Secretary on this subject. The matter had been discussed at a meeting of the Jockey Club, but no division was taken. LORD ABERDARE asked whether, supposing these meetings were held in defiance of the Jockey Club and the rules laid down in reference to the class of horses run and the conduct of the jockeys who rode them, what power would the Club have over the meetings? THE DUKE OF RICHMOND AND GORDON: The magistrates have power to refuse to license meetings irregularly conducted, and the Jockey Club would refuse to allow any advertisement of these races in The Racing Calendar. The Jockey Club have the power of preventing horses from being run and jockeys from riding at all race-meetings held under their rules; and the refusal to insert the advertisement of irregular meetings in The Racing Calendar would, consequently, have the practical effect of putting a stop to such meetings altogether. THE EARL OF AIRLIE observed, that there were hurdle and other races which did not come under the jurisdiction of the Jockey Club, but which also needed to be controlled. THE DUKE OF RICHMOND AND GORDON said, that the Grand National Hunt Committee would act in such cases in accordance with the course adopted by the Jockey Club. THE MARQUESS OF HUNTLY said, it was clear, from the discussion which had taken place, and from the speech of the noble Duke opposite, that the Jockey Club had the power, if they had the will, to apply a remedy for the abuses complained of. He came down to the House intending to vote for the second reading of the Bill; but after the statements made as to the proposed action of the Jockey Club, he did not think that the Bill was necessary. He believed that his noble Friend near him (the Earl of Rosebery) had won a race at Kingsbury. THE EARL OF ROSEBERY said, that was quite a mistake. THE MARQUESS OF HUNTLY said, the noble Earl was himself in America at the time; but he believed that he won a race at Kingsbury with a horse named Halifax. THE EARL OF ROSEBERY said, his noble Friend was misinformed. THE MARQUESS OF HUNTLY said, the real point at issue was whether the meetings proposed to be dealt with under the Bill could be controlled by the Stewards of the Jockey Club, and he could not doubt they would be. THE MARQUESS OF RIPON observed, that the noble Duke opposite had said the Jockey Club were anxious to carry out what the Home Secretary desired in the matter. What the Home Secretary desired was that the Bill should pass. VISCOUNT ENFIELD said, that after the tone of the debate and the amount of support offered to the Bill, he preferred not accepting any vague promises on behalf of the racing authorities, but should go to a Division, and any Amendments might then be considered in Committee. On Question, That ("now") stand part of the Motion? Their Lordships divided:-Contents 84; Not-Contents 57: Majority 27. Beauchamp, E. Belmore, E. Brownlow, E. Camperdown, E. Carnarvon, E. Cowper, E. De La Warr, E. Fitzwilliam, E. (V. Grey de Wilton.) Inchiquin, L. Strathmore and King- Kenlis, L. (M. Head Ashford, L. (V. Bury.) Meldrum, L. (M. Norton, L Penrhyn, L. Ribblesdale, L. Rosebery, L. (E. Rosebery.) ADDRESS FOR A RETURN. THE EARL OF GALLOWAY moved"That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty for a Return showing for what number of troops the barracks at each Brigade Depôt Centre' throughout the United Kingdom are at present constructed or in course of construction." The noble Earl said, he understood in 1871 or 1872, that when the brigade depôt centres was adopted the barracks in connection with them were to hold something like 600 men. VISCOUNT BURY said, his noble Friend was mistaken in supposing that the brigade depôt centre barracks were ever intended to accommodate 600 men. The original intention was that the barracks at each centre should hold 100 men, and that in case more accommodation was required, owing to the brigade being extended to war strength, or other emergency, huts or tents should be provided. As constructed, however, the barracks could, on the average, accommodate 237 men and 15 officers, and 25 married men's quarters. This, he begged their Lordships to note, was not the measure of the barrack accommodation of the country generally; he referred only to the barracks built for the purposes of the brigade depot centres. THE DUKE OF RUTLAND asked whether it was intended this year, as formerly, to lay down gravel between the Marble Arch and Hyde Park Corner, the end of Rotten Row and Queen's Gate, and in Regent's Park? He made this request as much in the interest of pedestrians as equestrians, as the gravel did not splash as much as the macadam; and it was already laid down between Buckingham Palace and the top of Constitution Hill. If it splashed in the one case it would in the other. He should like to prefer a further request for some place to shelter from a storm; but with a Free Trade Budget and an energetic and Protectionist foreign policy, he dared not ask for even a small sum for such a purpose. He would leave the matter over until another year, when circumstances might be more favourable. AND THE DUKE OF RICHMOND GORDON said, that he was unable to accede to the request of his noble Friend. Rotten Row was a place entirely set apart for riding, and was specially laid down for the purpose of being ridden upon. But as regarded the space between the Marble Arch and Hyde Park Corner the case was quite different, and for the sake of pedestrians he was obliged to Motion (by leave of the House) with refuse his noble Friend's request. Eques drawn. WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION BILL. (The Earl De La Warr.) (NO. 7.) SECOND READING. Order of the Day for the Second Reading, read. THE LORD CHANCELLOR appealed to the noble Earl (Earl de la Warr) who had charge of this Bill, to postpone the debate till the end of next month, in view of the fact that the Government had a Bill on the same subject, on which they desired at the earliest possible trians had ample space in Rotten Row for riding. It was, however, the intention of the First Commissioner of Works to put down some gravel in Regent's Park. THE DUKE OF RUTLAND said, he was glad to hear that something would Regent's Park, and he hoped the same be done for putting down gravel in the favour would be granted to the road from Rotten Row to the Queen's Gate. House adjourned at a quarter past Seven o'clock, till To-morrow, half past Ten o'clock. S. mittee ing ComOrder CONSTABULARY (IRELAND)-CASE OF SUB-CONSTABLE JOYCE.-QUESTION. MAJOR O'BEIRNE asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, Whether subconstable Joyce, and several other constables of the County Sligo Constabulary, Votes have verbally complained to the county inspector, as regards fines, removals, or other punishments, as being of a harsh and unjust character; and, whether such constables and sub-constables have, notnds) withstanding such verbal complaints, (East signed a statement through fear of consequences, that they had no complaints Street, to make; and why the county inspector ement did not himself, or his clerks, put such complaints in writing, and forward them [167]; to the Inspector General of Constabulary? Great (i67]; mendAssessourt of otland) VN. MR. J. LOWTHER: Sir, as I explained upon a recent occasion, there is on (re-a prescribed form in which complaints Indict- should be made by members of the Constabulary Force, and I find that sub-constable Joyce made no official complaint. It appears that the County Inspector very properly took an opportunity of urging upon him verbally the desirability of abstaining from the course of conduct which had led to the imposition of a recent fine, but that no complaint was made in the official form against ce, on that fine; and it was not the duty of er for the County Inspector to forward reports. row, to of conversations. I see that the hon. and gallant Gentleman attributes to growing members of the Force that they have signed incorrect statements through fear of consequences. I believe that there is no foundation whatever for that allegation; and as the conduct of the County Inspector is called in question, I have made inquiries, from which I find that in three years, during which time he has had upwards of 200 men under his command, the total fines imposed by o Post-him have only averaged £2 68. 8d. per ring to annum. of the is neces be more ELE- by the 1st Brigade at the successful direct attack and capture of the Peiwar Kotal, will appear in its entirety in the "London Gazette?" MR. E. STANHOPE: Sir, I am afraid I can only say that the whole of this supplementary despatch received in this country shall appear in The Gazette immediately. SOUTH AFRICA - THE ZULU WAR QUESTION. MR. ERRINGTON asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether under the new regulations, the recent promotion of Surgeon Major Reynolds, of the 2-24th, for his distinguished services at Rorke's Drift, would not in the ordinary course of events have taken place in a few months; and, under these circumstances, if he will consider whether some further recognition might not fairly be made of that officer's gallant conduct, and of the prominent part he took in the defence on that memorable occasion? COLONEL LOYD LINDSAY: Sir, in the absence of the Secretary of State for War, I may say, in reply to the hon. Gentleman's Question, that very great service has undoubtedly been done by Surgeon Major Reynolds in South Africa, and he was specially promoted 14 months before he could have been in the ordinary course of things, and by that he had passed over the heads of 64 officers. SOUTH AFRICA-THE ZULU WAR- QUESTION. MR. FRENCH asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether he has any objection to lay upon the Table of the House all the Papers relating to the trial by court martial of a sergeant of the 60th Rifles for retiring a picket on the alarm of the enemy without the order of his officer, in which he was sentenced to five years' penal servitude and reduction to the ranks? COLONEL LOYD LINDSAY: Sir, the only Papers relating to the trial which have been received are those embodied in Lord Chelmsford's despatch of April 10, which has been published in The London Gazette. No further Papers are expected. General Shute MEDICAL REFORM.-QUESTION. MR. ERRINGTON asked the Vice President of the Council, Whether, considering the complicated circumstances in which the important question of medical reform is now placed, and in order to avoid further unnecessary delay, he will now agree to its reference to a Select Committee as soon as possible, so that some progress may be made towards dealing with it? LORD GEORGE HAMILTON: Sir, I stated some time back the course that the Government intended to pursue namely, to embody in a Bill those educational reforms which had met, after protracted discussion, with the approval of the vast majority of the Medical Profession, and to refer to a Select Committee the disputed question of the constitution of the Medical Council, undertaking that the Government Bill should not be proceeded with until the Report of the Committee had been received. This course, in our opinion, was the most convenient and the most likely to save time; but I have been unable to carry it out, as the appointment of the Committee is blocked by an Amendment of the hon. Gentleman, which he will not withdraw. We are, therefore, in this position-that we must either accede to the proposal of the hon. Gentleman to refer all the questions contained in all the Medical Bills to a Select Committee, or postpone indefinitely-for the same difficulty would arise next Session-the prospect of medical reform. As this is a contingency much feared by medical reformers, we are ready to adopt the inconvenient procedure forced on us rather than sacrifice our Bill; and if, therefore, those hon. Gentlemen who have Amendments to the Medical Bills will withdraw them, so as to allow them to be read a second time, I will move that they be referred in their entirety to a Select Committee. SPAIN-LABOUR IN CUBA.-QUESTION. MR. ERRINGTON asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether Her Majesty's Government have any information as to the terms of a Treaty or Convention concluded between the Spanish Government and the King of Annam for the supply of Annamite labourers to Cuba; and, if not, whether he will endeavour to ascertain how far |