British Parliament

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, Issue 202, 10 August 1927, Page 3

British Parliament

HISTORY OUTLINED. REV. JAMES BARB’S ADDRESS. Th© Rev. James Barr, 8.D., the Scottish Member of Parliament, delivered a lecture on “lhe Rarliamenmry History ot Great Britain” in the Hastings Assembly Hall last evening, alien Mr. H. K. French, who occupied the chair, briefly introduced the lecturer to a large and interested .mdience, who left the hall with a realisation ot the great cost at which lhe franchise had been bought by the people of England. 'lhe reverend speaker is the possessor of a kindiy presence, which urings him in touch with his audience, even before he even opens his address, and his rugged features, displaying both strength and a fine sense of humour, gave promise, not only ot an instructive and convincing discourse on British history, but ot his subject being handled in a vital and compelling style that must hold his bouse for the evening. This promise was amply fulfilled, and, as the lecturer warmed to his subject, his eloquence lighted here and there with Hashes of humour, delighted his audience, who frequently applauded him, as he depicted interesting incidents of historical importance in the successive periods through which the British Parliament passed, from its genesis until the present day. He opened with a reference to the reign of Edwin the First, passing on to King John and the Magna Charta, that great historical document which secured the rights of every man to justice in the law courts, as well as to freedom from unjust taxation, it was the great charter of British liberties. In 1628 a movement was made to establish exceptions in the interests of the King, but Parliament had refused to allow any such alterations. OUTSTANDING FIGURES. Proceeding, the speaker told the audience something of Simon de Montfort, who called a parliament of the whole realm, of Richard the Second, who was deposed because of his exactions from the people, and of Henry the Eighth, in whose times there were great constitutional changes in both State and Church. Queen Elizabeth was another outstanding figure in the history of England. He spoke of Janies the First, of Guy Fawkes and of the institution, in 1690, of the “Beef Eaters,” that picturesquely-dressed body of men, “who, before Parliament opened, went poking about in odd corners, in order to ascertain whether there were any more gunpowder plots that required unearthing.” In the reign ot Charles the First the climax ot the struggle between Parliament and the King was reached, said Mr Barr. A reference to Sir John Elliott followed. It was Sir John who had been sent to the Tower by the King and then put back into parliament again ten days later, when the House had “gone on strike.” it was Sir John who had declared that “No one ever went about to break Parliament but Parliament uroke him.” A lantern picture depicted the trial ol Charles, when lie was adjudged a “tyrant, traitor and murderer, and an enemy of his country.” Cromwell, John Milton and others of that period, were spoken of and “The Bill of Rights” of 1690, which declared that Parliament aloiw had the power to make taxes, was another interesting subject- The whole struggle between Parliament and the King had been ended, but there was still the struggle between the House of Commons and the House of Lords. It had been as late as 1911 that the House of Commons had been given power over finance. Incidents in the careers of Sir Robert Walpole, the Pitts, Charles Fox, Edmund Burke, William Wilberforce, Shaftesbury and numerous others were described by the lecturer, who also made quotations from notable historical speeches. CONDITIONS IN GLASGOW. “Better times are yet to be,” said the lecturer. “In reforms of housing public health and education great strides had been made within recent years and these were due principally to the idea of service that was grooving up.” No longer did Scotland suffer from the black plagues and choleras that would often sweep away a fourth of the population of a great city. In a young country, with good housing conditions, there wqe, not the same danger but in Glasgow 12.8 per cent of the population lived in single apartment houses. This problem was being pradually handled in Scotland, but even now the population was 900 to the acre. Jt was glorious, but true, that men were able to rise out of that environment to lead great and noble lives, but it was heroism which should not be asked of men and women in civilised communities. The figures of the 1911 census showed that the death rates of boys, under five years, were, for single apartment houses, 40.56; two rooms, 30.2; three rooms, 17-9; four rooms, 10.27.' In 1855, a normal year, the death rate in Glasgow was 32. At the present time it was 13.25, compared with New Zealand’s 8.29. Since 1855 the infantile death rate of Glasgow had been reduced from 182 to 101. In New Zealand, in 1925, it was 42.3. "But human nature is being made better" said Mr Barr, “notwithstanding what is said about the ‘good old times.’ ” (Applause.).

At the conclusion of the lecture Mr Barr was accorded a hearty vote ot thanks.