THE IRISH QUESTION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 695, 15 August 1870, Page 2

THE IRISH QUESTION.

The Irish Land Bill is now fairly launched into the House ot Lords. It passed the third reading in the Commons amidst loud cheers; and doubtless to the great relief of honourable members, who have given 23 long sittings to the discussion of its details. A last effort was made by Sir John Gray in committee to secure " permissive parliamentary tenant-right," but his projects were overborne by an enormous majority. In the final debate, Mr Hardy, who acted as opposition leader in the absence of Mr Disraeli, mildly objected to some of the provisions of the Bill, and hinted his hope that it might come back from " another place" amended in some of its features. The Premier replied that the Government would not consent to tamper with the integrity and efficiency of the Bill, and referred in warning words to " the great responsibility" the Lords would incur, should they attempt to mutilate it. The bill was brought into the Upper House within a few minutes of its leaving the Commons, and read a first time. The debate on the second reading commenced on Tuesday evening (June 14), and was continued last night. Lord Salisbury expressed his approval of the sections which gave retrospective compensation — "Mr Bright's clauses," as they are generally called — but objected to giving compensation for disturbance, and to interference with freedom of contract. Lord Derby took a similar view, but saw one&trong reason why he should support the bill, in the need there was for combining all parties in opposition to the extreme demands which are likely to be made by Irish demagogue!. The debate stands adjourned. BEPOBTERS BXOLTJDBD. One little episode has served to draw attention to an unsavoury subject. It is now 20 years since the House of Commons debated with closed doors. Mr John O'Connell was the last to exercise the privilege of a member, and compel all " strangers " to withdraw. It was Mr Crauford, the member for Ayr, who this time called the attention of the Speaker to their presence. There was a moment's hesitation, an evident reluctance to enforce the old rule, and then the Speaker, as having no alternative, ordered the galleries to be cleared, including of course the " Reporters' Gallery." The occasion of this unusual interference was a motion by Mr W. Fowler for leave to bring in a bill to repeal the Contagious Diseases Acts. The operation of these acts, which is as yet confined to garrison towns, haß during the last year been made the sub-

- •■ ; ■«* n ■ . i . ■■■ ■ n 4 j«cV of much controversy. They were passed at the fag end of a session, quietly, and almost without knowledge of the public, who have only, now come to understand their scope and aim. They are essentially of military origin, and for the protection of the army, which is known to lose in effective force an equivalent to two regiments a day from the one disease against which they are directed. But proposals have been made to extend their operation to the civil population ; and there are a large number of medical men who asiert the necessity of some system of liceused prostitution similar to that which obtains on the Continent, by which'unfortunate women shall at least be brought under legal surveillance. * On the other hand, as the nature of these acts has become known, a strong agitation has arisen against them, in which the ladies bare been unusually conspicuous. Mlsb Florence Nightingale and Harriet Wailineau have given" tbeir names to a eom•tfktee, whioh includes many ether eminent women; and of these some have even ventured to appear at public meetings, and appeal passionately to the mothers and daughters of En gland to unite their influence for the repeal of the acts. Petitions to that end have been widely circulated, and those presented already bear the signature of more than 330,000 persons. The chief objections urged against the measure are that it endangers the liberty oi the subjeot — a point on which a good many foolish things hare been said— that it tends to encourage immorality, and that it does not in reality check the disease. There is much difference of opinion even in so-called religious circles as to its expediency; and the most opposite statements are made as to the facts involved in the discussion. The most nauseous details hava been freely canvassed, and the question has reached that stage when it cannot be put back into secrecy. It appears that on the night of the debate the "Ladies' Cage" was known to be full. The Sergeant-at-Arms gave its occupants warning that, they might retire, but they preferred to stay, being many of them warmly interested in the controversy. Mr Crauford then took the extreme step of appealing to the Speaker. He justifies himself also on the broader ground, that it is not expedient to deluge the country with reports of such a debate. But he has signally failed in his object, for not only has his conduct emphatically directed attention to the subject, but The Times the next morning published a report furnished by one of the members. The debate, too, is adjourned, but meanwhile the Government have intimated their intention of appointing a commission of inquiry into the whole subject, in its moral as well as physical aipccw, ■ Mr Henley subsequently called upon the Government to consider what might be done to check the use of privilege in excluding reporters, and urged that publicity in this matter was of the. greatest importance. Mr Gilpin has given notice of a motion so to change the practice of the House as to make the exclusion of the, public dependent on a formal vote. ■ . """