vinced there would be no disorder in evening voting, because they judged of the danger by the then system of voting. The experiment might have been dangerous then. He had confidence as to how the Ballot would prevent disorder, but the House had not; and, in order to secure the passing of the Ballot Bill, he was obliged to give up the question of the hours of polling. Now they had experience to guide them. Now that the people were not made acquainted with the state of the poll, chances of disorder had been very much diminished. Experience had also been gained of the working of School Board elections. There was one objection, however, which he thought had something in it, although it was not a very strong objection after all. He believed there were several towns in which the grievance was not a particularly severe one. It was felt in several large towns that the present hours were quite sufficient for the purpose, and there was no general desire to lengthen them. He was glad, therefore, to find that the hon. Member who introduced the Bill was quite willing to make a limitation as to boroughs. No doubt, there were many small boroughs where no change was needed; but, on the other hand, there were boroughs, not large, like Morpeth, where an alteration would be of great service. He (Mr. W. E. Forster) had hoped the hon. Member for Morpeth (Mr. Burt) would have been able to show the House how the present system worked there. The presumption, however, ought to be that the less hours were necessary for large boroughs. He would not lay down any exact limit as to population. That was a matter to be decided by a Committee He thought that in making the presumption for less hours in large and for the present hours in small boroughs, power might be given to the Town Council to determine what the hours should be say, for a particular number of years, giving the Council power to lengthen the hours if they thought fit. He (Mr. W. E. Forster) understood his hon. Friend was only asking the House to vote for this principle namely, that instead of compelling working men to vote at great inconvenience, and at a great sacrifice to themselves, they should so arrange the hours of the poll as to on the Bill. Mr. W. E. Forster enable them to vote without incurring any loss. That was a principle for which he (Mr. W. E. Forster) should gladly vote. He could not understand how any hon. Member on either side of the House, much less any responsible Government, could refuse to support that principle. SIR MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEY said, the right hon. Gentleman who had just sat down wished to obtain some information from him as to whether the question before the House would be dealt with by Her Majesty's Government before the General Election, and also as to when the General Election might be expected to take place. He would state, at the outset, that he had no information as to what the Government intended to do in this matter, and still less had he any idea as to when a General Election might be expected. The right hon. Gentleman had done him no more than justice, when he said that the inquiry last year had been conducted throughout in an unbiassed manner. The Report proposed by him, to which reference had been made, spoke as to the view he held. It appeared to him-and the Report stated it—that in many boroughs of large extent the present hours of polling did impose a difficulty upon the working classes, and, therefore, a griev ance existed in the way of recording their votes. He felt that; and he also felt that, as far as the evidence went, no means of meeting that grievance had been shown, except the extension of the hours of polling to 8 o'clock in the evening. The only way in which Party came in was, that the Conservatives were, perhaps, more cautious than the Liberals in determining upon the means of meeting a grievance which they did not deny. He was himself more alive to the difficulties and dangers of the subject than some Members of the Committee. On the question of increased expenditure there was not much to be said, and too much stress ought not to be laid on that ground of objection. Sufficient importance had not, however, been given to the opinions expressed by the Mayors and other authorities who had been examined, and who were responsible for order in their several localities. It was not quite a fair way of getting rid of their objections by saying that those gentlemen were personally interested in preventing an extension of hours. He regarded with more caution the proposed change, and thought that time should be given to see how the experiment worked in the Metropolis. They also foresaw a greater element of danger than did the others; and, consequently, he had now to recommend to the House the Report of the Committee rather than the Bill of the hon. Member for Birmingham (Mr. Chamberlain), which proposed to enact that in every borough in England, Scotland, and Ireland, the hours should be extended to 8 o'clock, and that not only for Parliamentary Elections, but apparently also for all elections of whatever kind. He thought the House could hardly be expected to agree to that. It was said by some, as, for instance, by the right hon. the Member for Bradford, that voting for a Bill like that was no more than voting for an abstract Resolution in favour of extension of hours, and in favour of remedying what was, doubtless, an admitted grievance in many parts of England. For his own part, he declined to take that view; and it appeared to him that if the Bill were to be made acceptable to the House, it would have to be altered to one of an entirely dif ferent character. The Government, therefore, could not assent to the second reading of this Bill, which would mean immediate legislation on a uniform rule. There were cases in which the voters had not an opportunity of voting without sacrifice of working time, and that could not be the intention of Parliament; but this crude and undigested scheme did not meet the difficulty. Any pro attached some importance to the fears they expressed; and, besides, he would appeal to hon. Members who had any knowledge of the subject as to the sort of thing which went on during the last half-hour before the close of the poll in some of the smaller constituencies. That, he thought, was the critical time when bribery might be expected to prevail. It was a question whether the practice of bribery at Parliamentary Elections had been diminished to any material extent by the passing of the Ballot Act; but he thought no one could doubt that the extension of the franchise had tended in that direction by largely increasing the number of persons entitled to vote, and so making bribery a much more costly process than it was in the days of small constituencies. No one could doubt that the question proposed to be dealt with by the Bill of the hon. Member for Birmingham was one beset with difficulties, and, at the same time, presenting points in which real grievances existed; but the details involved were not easy of settlement. There was much to be said in favour of the suggestion which had been made by the hon. Member for Glasgow (Dr. Cameron), that in boroughs of above 100,000 population the presumption should be that the hours of polling were extended to 8 o'clock, and that in boroughs below that number the presumption should be the other way; but that, in both cases, discretion should be given to the Town Councils either to extend or diminish the hours. That proposal had, to his mind, some considerable weight; but he felt there were considerable objec-posal on the subject must recognize the tions also to intrusting such powers to Town Councils, inasmuch as it might introduce an element of discord. He apprehended that if such a measure were agreed to, it would have to be for a fixed period of years and under certain limitations. No doubt, the proposition was worthy of consideration; but the Bill before the House was an entirely different matter. It was not in any sense a carrying out of the Report of the Committee, or of the alternative Report proposed by the hon. Member for Glasgow (Dr. Cameron). The difference between the two Parties in the Committee was not so very great. It was really the difference which naturally existed between the two political Parties of the State. His own Party fact that in a smaller borough, owing to the distance of workmen from their homes, more time would be required than in the large boroughs, where they lived close to their work, and he did not think this Bill afforded a satisfactory solution. MR. CHAMBERLAIN, in reply, expressed his regret that, speaking on the part of the Government, the Under Secretary had not been able to give the House some more definite information as to the course they intended to take. The question now remained in this state-that here was an acknowledged grievance which the Government distinctly refused to entertain. MR. GOLDNEY opposed the Bill, on the ground that its principle had been tried and had failed. Question put. The House divided:-Ayes 165; Noes 190 Majority 25.-(Div. List, No. 117.) Words added. of the expenditure for the War in South Africa during the present financial year may be expected to be laid upon the Table? THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER: Sir, I have been anxious not Main Question, as amended, put, and to lay the Estimate of the expenditure agreed to. for the South African War before the House until I was in a position to form Second Reading put off for three as accurate an idea as possible of the months. amount likely to be required. That depends on two circumstances-the expenditure per month, and the length of time which the war is likely to last. At the present moment we are in a position of some difficulty, especially in regard to the second of those considerations. The latest information that I have as to the actual amount of expenditure does not go down later than the 20th of April. The expenditure, according to the information I have to that date, was proceeding at the rate of somewhat more than £500,000 per month. We have, I hope, cleared up the expenditure to the 31st of March, and, therefore, if during the months of April, May, and June, the expenditure is to be taken as proceeding at the same rate, you would have an expenditure of £1,500,000 or £1,600,000; and if the war be concluded, as we hope it may, by the end of June, there would probably be nothing to disturb the calculations of the Budget. course, I am not at present in a position to say when we may hope for a termination of the war; neither am I in a position to say that the expenditure is now going on at the same rate as at the beginning of April. I think it is for the convenience of the House that I should defer laying any statement on the Table till I am in a position to make one Of that will command more confidence than any which I could make at this moment, and I think my right hon. Friend will see that it is better that I should defer it for some time longer. Of course, we must take a Vote some little time before the close of the Session, and when we do so, I shall be able to state the grounds on which the Estimate is based. MR. CHILDERS: Did we clearly understand from the earlier part of the SOUTH AFRICA-THE ZULU WAR- right hon. Baronet's answer that up to ESTIMATE OF EXPENDITURE. QUESTIONS. MR. CHILDERS asked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, When the Estimate the end of the last financial year the whole charge of the war has been metnot only the charge on the Exchequer which comes in the shape of drafts on home, but the whole real cost to that date? THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHE- | after incorporated in the annual Finance QUER: Yes; so far as our accounts go, Statement; whether he will direct that we believe that is the case. I always the balance sheets of the National Debt speak with some diffidence about ac- Commissioners be dated on the 31st counts from a Colony at that distance; March, so as to correspond with the but as far as we can make out, we be- balance sheet of the Imperial Treasury; lieve that charge is covered by what was and, whether he will provide for the advanced in the last financial year. production at the earliest moment of the Public Annual Finance Accounts, which last year were circulated only after the close of the Session? SIR GEORGE CAMPBELL, who had given Notice of his intention to inquire whether the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Estimate of £1,500,000 was likely to be exceeded, said, that after the statement just made, he did not think it necessary to put his Question. ARMY MEDICAL SERVICE-INVALIDED MEDICAL OFFICERS.-QUESTION. MR. GOURLEY asked the Secretary of State for War, If the rule exists that medical officers of the Army who from the effects of climate are invalided home before completing their term of service, are after the expiration of their sick leave placed on temporary half-pay, if declared by a medical board to be unfit to resume their appointments abroad; and if such is the regulation, whether, owing to the reduced state of the Army medical department and the heavy strain recently put upon it, a considerable saving of public money might not be effected by employing such officers as might be found fit by a medical board on home service? COLONEL STANLEY: Medical officers who have been invalided home are, by the Regulations, placed on temporary half-pay for six months, and if they are then found unable to return to their stations are placed on the permanent list. It would not be for the good of the Service to employ those officers who are temporarily incapacitated to fill up vacancies abroad; but as regards the employment of such officers at home, it is contemplated so to employ officers on permanent half-pay in certain stations where their services can be utilized. THE ANNUAL FINANCIAL STATE MENT.-QUESTION. MR. J. G. HUBBARD asked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether he will direct that the Analysed Statement of the Public Income and Expenditure, as shown in Parliamentary Papers 452 and 387 of Sessions 1877 and 1878, be hereVOL CCXLVI. [THIRD SERIES.] THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER, in reply, said, that he understood the Annual Financial Statement to mean the Budget; and though the Analysed Statements of his right hon. Friend were very valuable and interesting, he should not like to alter the usual form adopted in the Statements of the Chancellor of the Exchequer without very careful consideration. To do so would, of course, disturb the calculations of finance with reference to former years. With regard to the second part of the Question, he could not give directions as to the dating of the balance. sheets, because some accounts were by legislation ordered to be brought down to a particular date, and there would probably be difficulty and expense in making alterations in them. In regard to the publication of the Public Annual Finance Accounts, the Government was anxious to do all in its power to produce them as early as possible; but it was more important that they should be correct than that they should be early; and the Clerk of the Treasury, who was charged with the duty of preparing them, was so fully burdened with work that the Government could only say that it would use its best endeavours to procure an early publication. NORTHERN BORNEO-CESSION OF LAND, &c.-QUESTION. SIR CHARLES W. DILKE asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, with regard to the cession of territory in Northern Borneo to a British trading Company, When Papers on the matter will be presented to Parliament; whether those Papers will contain information as to the difficulty which has arisen between the British and Spanish Governments on the subject; and, whether it is true, as stated in the "Standard" of the 6th of June, that the Governor and Commander in 3 I Chief in Labuan has been to the North East coast of Borneo to protest against the hoisting of the Spanish flag, the "Standard" adding that His Excellency was supported by two ships of war? MR. BOURKE: In answer to the Question of the hon. Baronet, I have to say that the proposal to cede the territory alluded to is still under the consideration of Her Majesty's Government. No decision has yet been arrived at. When the question is settled Papers will be submitted. I cannot say that any difficulty has arisen between the British and Spanish Governments on the subject. Certainly, a correspondence is going on between the two Governments; and when that correspondence is ripe for publication, there will be no objection to lay it on the Table. It is quite true that the Governor and Commander-in-Chief in Labuan has visited the North-East coast of Borneo for the purpose of protesting against the hoisting of the Spanish flag, and his visit was made in a gunboat, which is the only convenient means of locomotion in that part of the world. MR. W. E. FORSTER: I should like to know definitely, whether anything has yet been decided regarding the cession of territory, or whether any responsibility has been incurred by the British Government; and, also, whether, before any step is taken, full information will be given to the House? MR. BOURKE: That is another question altogether. As I have said, negotiations on the subject are going on. But whether the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs may think it desirable that they should be made public, is a question which I am not prepared to answer without Notice. AFRICA-WEST COAST-SIERRA LEONE CUSTOMS DUTIES.-QUESTION. MR. A. M'ARTHUR asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether disturbances have taken place in Scaries River, near Sierra Leone, in consequence of attempts having been made to impose Customs Duties upon the natives; whether the natives of this part of the coast are subjects of Great Britain or amenable to British authority; and, whether the opinion of the Law Officers of the Crown as to the legality of the proposed taxation has been obtained? SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH: I think the hon. Member's Question is Sir Charles W. Dilke based upon some misapprehension of what has occurred. In order to avoid loss to the Customs revenue of Sierra Leone, it has been considered necessary to establish a Customs station on the Island of Kikonkch, which was ceded to Her Majesty in 1847. Duties would, of course, be levied there from the merchants, and the Chiefs in the neighbouring rivers are stated by Governor Rowe to make no objection to what has been done; though, before the matter was explained, there was some opposition on the Island itself to the steps taken by Commander Alington for the purpose, but nothing at all that amounted to a disturbance. Of course, Customs duties can legally be levied in British territory. CEYLON-FOOD SCARCITY. QUESTION. MR. POTTER asked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, If the attention of Government has been called to the statement in the "Times" of June 3rd, on the authority of its correspondent at Colombo, by which it appears that there is the greatest scarcity of food, approaching even to famine, in certain districts of Ceylon; and, whether, under such circumstances, the Government will suspend the Import Duties on grain into Ceylon, as they have done into Cyprus, and also suspend the taxes on grain grown in the island, which tend to discourage its cultivation? SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH: The statement in The Times referred to by the hon. Member appears to complain not so much of a scarcity of food in Ceylon as of a deficiency of means to purchase cotton goods. There has, however, been considerable temporary distress, in the earlier part of the present year, in some districts of Ceylon; but measures were at once taken by the Colonial Government to alleviate it: and there is every reason to anticipate that, owing to this action, and to the rains which fell towards the latter part of March, it will very soon have entirely passed away-if, indeed, it has not already done so. There is nothing in the circumstances which would warrant the suspension of the import duties on grain; and the hon. Member is already aware of the action which has been taken by the Government on the general ques |