QUESTION. MR. MARSHI said, he wished to ask the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, Whether an Act has been passed by the Legislature of New South Wales imposing a fine of £10 on every Chinese landed in the Colony, and an annual Poll Tax of £4 on every Chinese resident there, and enacting other penalties against them; whether Her Majesty has been advised to withhold Her consent from such Act; and whether he is aware that previous to the passing of this Act a Select Committee of the Legislative Council of New South Wales had, after examining witnesses, made a Report wholly and entirely acquitting the Chinese residing in the Colony of the charges and imputations which had been MR. CHICHESTER FORTESCUE Government has followed has been one which, far from intending to increase CHINESE IMMIGRANTS IN AUSTRALIA. armaments, has tended to keep them within moderate bounds. The policy has been, in the first place, one of non-intervention in the domestic affairs of other countries. Can any one say that is an aggressive policy; or that, if we had proposed to interfere either on behalf of the sovereigns, or of the nations which deposed those sovereigns, we should not have been more likely to involve ourselves in war, or at all events in preparation for war, than we have been while carefully refusing to interfere in the concerns of those countries. The other principle which I have kept steadily in view is, that we should always encourage the independence of other countries; that it is for the advantage of Europe and for the advantage of the world that each independent nation should pre-made against them? serve its own state, its own privileges, and its own position. But that, again, is not said, that an Act such as that described a principle that tends to war; it is one by the hon. Member was passed by the that tends to peace, and to the preserva- Legislature of New South Wales a short tion of the rights of every nation by other time ago; it was assented to by the Gocountries. I think the noble Earl who vernor, and had been left to its operation. began the debate, and the noble Earl who With respect to the latter part of the hon. spoke before me, have totally failed in Gentleman's question, they had had no reshowing that there is any danger in the port at the Colonial Office of such a propresent state of our finance. I believe ceeding on the part of the Parliament of that finance is in a sound condition, and New South Wales. He might add that even if you have no surplus, that it is not his noble Friend at the head of the Cowise to impose taxes without necessity. lonial Office was fully aware of the objecWith regard to the defence of the country, tionable nature of this legislation under I believe that we have done no more than ordinary circumstances; but he was aware what is necessary; but at the same time I that an Act very similar had been in opedo not mean to say, that when it can be ration for many years in the neighbouring judiciously done, expenditure from time to Colony of Victoria, that law having been time ought not to be reduced. Her Ma-enacted under the old constitution. He also jesty's Government will be happy when the time comes that those reductions can be safely made, and after the defences of the country have been secured every opportunity for reduction will be eagerly embraced. Motion agreed to. knew that there was a strong feeling in New South Wales against increasing the number of Chinese males in Australia, there being scarcely any Chinese women in the country, and the Chinese in the Colony amounted to 21,000, or about onefourth of the adult male population. Under these circumstances, Her Majesty's Government would not advise the Crown to disallow the Act; but the Secretary of State had advised the Colonial Government to relax the stringency of the provision in cases where the Chinese immigrants were accompanied by their wives and families. ELECTRIC TELEGRAPII COMPANIES. COLONEL WILSON PATTEN said, ho wished to ask the President of the Board of Trade, Whether it is the intention of the Government to introduce any measure during the present Session for regulating SUPPLY. Order for Committee read. PURCHASE OF COMMISSIONS. the construction of lines of Electric Tele-"That Mr. Speaker do now leave the graph on public roads and lands adjoining Chair." thereto; and whether care has been taken to insert in all Private Bills having this object clauses rendering Electric Telegraph Companies liable to future general legislation? RESOLUTION. SIR DE LACY EVANS said, that al though the Motion which he should beg leave to submit was of limited scope, ap MR. MILNER GIBSON replied, that with regard to the last part of the question of his hon. Friend, as to whether Compa-plying only to one rank, it would be adnies which had obtained Acts of Parlia. mitted to be of no inconsiderable importance. It had, in fact, for its object to ment to construct Electric Telegraphs would be subject to future legislation, he believed that none of the Acts contained such a clause; but some of them, he believed about one-half, had a clause which gave to Parliament a power of limited interference at the end of ten years. He had a copy of the clause, which stated "That at any time after the expiration of ten years from the passing of this Act the regulations of the Company with regard to the transmission of messages and the opening of streets shall be subject to a revision of Parliament; and Parliament shall then require and enforce the adoption and performance by the Companies of such modified or other regulations as aforesaid as shall be deemed necessary for the protection and convenience of the public." There was no clause as to general legislation by Parliament, but he proposed communicating with the Chairman of Ways and Means recommending that a clause granting such power should be inserted in any Bill now before Parliament. As to the first part of the question, the subject was one of considerable difficulty. It was undergoing consideration, but he could not undertake, as at present advised, to promise that any Bill relating to the question should be introduced during the present Session. THE HORSFALL GUN.-QUESTION. MR. LAIRD said, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for War, If the War Office has decided that the Horsfall Monster Gun shall be tested against the Warrior and other Targets; and, if so, when the trial would take place? SIR GEORGE LEWIS said, it had been decided that some experiment should be made to test the power of the gun, but nothing had been decided as to the precise nature of the experiment. adopt the principle of selection in the ap- "An officer intrusted with the command of a regiment is invested with authority which renders him responsible to his Sovereign and his country for the maintenance of discipline, order, and a proper system of economy in his corps; he is to exact from officers and men the most implicit intention of violating the law. It was obedience to regulations, and he is not only to generally, and he thought correctly, asenforce by commands, but to encourage by example the energetic discharge of duty and the sumed that a pure and high sense of steady endurance of the difficulties and privations honour were peculiarly requisite in the which are inseparable from military service." army. But how was a high sense of truth How was that regimental command, ad- and honour reconcilable with the unseemmitted on all hands to be of such para- ly proceedings imposed by Government mount consequence, at present appointed? upon the officers. It was true that naBy purchase, interest, or seniority. There tions which possessed sufficient power and was no regimental rank in the army from resources to carry on wars for many which there was so little guarantee re- years would probably eventually obtain, quired for competency to perform its du- under any system, officers of high rank ties. In fact, if an officer was next in competent to high responsibilities. But succession, he was appointed almost as a such tardy and uncertain results would unmatter of course to the command of the avoidably be coupled with great and unregiment. But that became still more necessary hazards, and often the worst of seriously objectionable in consequence of all results the prolongation of wars. the late regulation giving to lieutenant The wars arising out of the French Revocolonels, after the short interval of five lution extended to all parts of the world, years, the rank of Colonel, with eligibility continued for not much less than a quarter to be selected for the command of brigades. of a century, and gave varied opportu These changes rendered the proposed re- nitics of experience to our troops; and form, of course, additionally urgent. At yet above a dozen years elapsed before a page 24 of the Report of the Royal Com general appeared in our ranks (Sir A. mission was the following passage:Wellesley), who was justly recognised as "If the purchase system interferes thus in- eminently qualified to maintain the inte juriously with the appointments to the command rests and glory of his country. But of of regiments, it must indirectly affect all the his victories there was one unlucky consehigher ranks of the army. Whenever the respon- quence, namely, that they tended to an insible advisers of the Crown are obliged to prepare ference that our military institutions refor the contingencies of war, and to recommend quired no revision. The despatches, howHer Majesty to name a commander for her army in the field, they must necessarily select from ever, of that great commander, written among those who have obtained high rank in the not as the head of a great political party, army. The great majority of these officers, how the position which he subsequently held, ever, will have risen by purchase, obtaining their rank, not from any acknowledged fitness, but from proved that he considered his operations the current of promotion and the opportunities of very frequently injuriously affected by buying advancement. This country will there- professional deficiencies on the part of fore commence the operations of war under a dis- those under his command. But, whatadvantage, compared with foreign States, where ever might have been the case half a all the officers in the higher grades will have been subjected to several selections, and may there- century back, a considerable degree of fore, if the power of selection has been honestly professional acquirement was becoming and wisely exercised, be all men of known effi- from year to year additionally necessary, ciency and merit." and for which the possession of a large sum of money must prove a very unreliable substitute. Neither would the most exact performance of the mere mechanical parade or field-day movements afford for such qualifications any sufficient security. He thought it would not be difficult to cite historical proofs that the shortcomings of not a few commanders raised to rank by these venal means had, at different epochs, cost our country millions of money, fearful loss of lives, and other most regrettable consequen ces. Thus also it was that the commencement of almost all our conflicts had been usually marked by discomfiture and loss of prestige. But there were fanatics of promotion by money rather than merit. To these he would say, "If this be an honour What was the working of the system? A young officer no sooner joined his regiment than a series of inquiries or private bargainings were entered on with him as to the amount beyond the legal prices which he would be prepared to contribute towards the different promotions of the regiment. They had it on the candid and honourable evidence of one of the partners of a most eminent army agency firm that in several corps, but especially in the cavalry, double the legal prices, and often more than double, were usually given; and it appeared in the evidence of the Commander-in-Chief that officers who asked permission to make those purchases invariably concealed from the authorities their able and beneficial system, the Government (Lynn (Lord Stanley), Mr. Sidney Herbert, ought to introduce it into all other depart- Sir Harry Jones, and the hon. and gallant ments." But there was no other public Member who has moved the present Resodepartment which would not feel dishonour-lution. The Report of the Commissioners ed by such a mode of advancement. At is very elaborate, and appended to it is the present time the corruption of the sys- evidence which shows that the question tem was more extensive, rife, and flagrant was investigated with great care and imthan at any period during the last 200 partiality. The recommendation at which years. Formerly it was sometimes alleged they ultimately arrived is embodied in the by the defenders of the system, that if it present Resolution, and is to the effect involved corruption, it was only in the bar- that purchase in the army should continue, gains between officer and officer, and that but that the rank of lieutenant colonel the Government had no participation in it. should be subject no longer to purchase, But that could no longer be said, for the but should be bestowed by selection-that account of the Reserved Fund, laid on the is to say, that the lieutenant-colonel of a table of the House only two or three days regiment should be appointed by the selecsince, proved that the Government were tion of the Commander-in-Chief, without now carrying on a most extensive system any purchase. The Government, after conof barter in army commissions. His Mo- sidering the matter, determined to give tion was limited to the one rank of lieu-effect to the chief recommendation of the tenant colonels, and he would not therefore further trespass on the attention of the House. It appeared to him to be a selfevident proposition already more than once acquiesced in by the Government. Unless, then, the noble Lord the Prime Minister and the War Department had resolved that the proved scandals of purchase, by which the officers of the army were blamelessly and involuntarily demoralized, should remain unabated, he hoped that his Motion would be acceded to. Amendment proposed, To leave out from the word "That" to the end of the Question, in order to add the words "in the opinion of this House, no further postponement ought to take place in giving effect to the promises of Government, that the Command of Regiments should no longer be purchasable, and that the promotions to that rank should henceforth be regulated by selection upon the responsibility of the Commander in Chief," -instead thereof. LORD STANLEY seconded the Motion. SIR GEORGE LEWIS: Sir, as my hon. and gallant Friend, owing to the state of his health, which we must all regret, was unable to make his remarks generally audible throughout the House, perhaps it will be convenient if I state the precise nature and grounds of the Motion. I shall, of course, endeavour to do so with perfect fairness. The House is doubtless aware that a Commission was issued some years ago to inquire into the system of purchase and sale of commissions in the army. That Commission was composed of the most eminent and competent Members, including, among others, the Duke of Somerset, the noble Lord the Member for King's Commission with regard to the rank of lieutenant colonel, and that decision was communicated in 1860 to the House by Mr. Sidney Herbert, the then Secretary at War. Soon afterwards it became necessary for him to consider the details of the subject, with a view to carrying into effect the decision which had been formed; but upon approaching the question more closely, he found that it was embarrassed with great difficulties of detail, and that it was necessary to take into account, that owing to the amalgamation of the Indian with the British army, twelve new regimentsthree of cavalry and nine of infantrywould be created, in which commissions would be awarded, not by purchase, but as in the Engineers, by selection and seniority up to the rank of field-officer. There is in those twelve regiments. I understand no doubt that this system is to be retained that my predecessor in the office I now hold saw no immediate prospect of being able to act upon the decision which had been come to, and made a communication to that effect to His Royal Highness the Commander in Chief. In answer to a question put by the noble Lord opposite (Lord Stanley), my hon. Friend, who was then Under Secretary, stated in the IIouse that until the Government could have some experience of the working of the system of non-purchase in those twelve regiments, it was not intended to act upon the decision which had previously been announced. That is the state in which I found the question, and I will now give the reasons why, as at present advised, I do not think it expedient to depart from that revised decision of the Government, or to take any immediate steps for acting upon the recommendation of the Commission. I wish the House to understand, not that the question is at all finally concluded, but that, as these twelve regiments have not been formed, in point of experience it remains practically where it stood when my hon. Friend gave the answer to which I have referred, last Session. With the permission of the House, I will state briefly the reasons why I see great difficulty in acceding to the Motion of the hon. and gallant General. The subject to which he has limited his Resolution must be considered as part of the larger question, as to the expediency of entirely abolishing the system of purchase. It must be re garded as the first important step in that direction, and therefore the House would fall into a serious practical error if they thought that they could decide this question without exercising a material influence upon the decision of the larger one. In fact, the hon. and gallant General takes that view of the case, because, in apology for the limited scope of his Motion, he said, that at least it would be the commencement of the reformation of the general system, and he qualified his signature to the Report of the Commission in the following terms: "As a member of the Commission, he has the honour to state that he has deemed it a duty to sign the Report decided on by the Commissioners, because he fully concurs in the recommendations, as far as they go, which it contains. But, as the evidence adduced has strengthened the convictions which he previously held on the subject, and as he believes that some additional measures may with advantage to the public be adopted, having for their object a more early termination of the system of sale and purchase of commissions in the army than is provided for in this Report, he will feel it his duty to transmit, as soon as practicable, to the office of the Commission a representation of his humble opinions to this effect." It is therefore obvious that my hon. and gallant Friend considers the application of the principle of selection to appointment to the rank of lieutenant colonel only an instalment towards a general alteration of the system, and that on that account this more limited question has a very close connection with the more extended one. One difficulty in the way of the abolition of the purchase system which meets us on the threshold, is the large amount which it would be necessary for the House to provide for compensation; because I apprehend that it will not be denied, that officers who under the existing system have legally paid for their commissions would, if that system was suddenly altered, be entitled to compensation. The estimate of the amounts required for compensation which I have had placed in my hand is-for Cavalry, £1,335,290; for the Guards, £610,110; for the Line, £5,180,630; total, £7,126,030. SIR DE LACY EVANS was understood to intimate a doubt whether this estimate would meet with the sanction of Dr. Farr. SIR GEORGE LEWIS: I cannot say whether Dr. Farr has been consulted upon this estimate, nor did I know that he was an authority upon military statistics. No doubt there will be many different estimates. I have given to the House that which I have obtained from the War Office, and which is certainly not a fanciful estimate. Confining ourselves, however, to the limited question which the hon. and gallant General has brought before the House, it would require about £494,290 to pay to 384 lieutenant colonels the difference between the value of a majority and that of a licutenant-colonelcy, if they received it at once. Taking it for granted that cach officer would, before selling, become entitled to the full value, £17,900 must be added, which would make the total £512,190. These are the most material parts of the financial view of the question. I merely state the facts, and leave the House to form its own judgment as to the conclusion which is to be drawn from them. Beyond this there are certain practical advantages, the possession of which by the system of purchase cannot be denied, howOne of the most prominent of these is the ever much it may be denounced in theory. youth of the officers. It will be universally admitted that a system of purchase clears away officers in the higher grades, and secures to our army, upon the whole, a younger, more efficient, and more active class of officers than can be obtained in any army in which seniority is the only rule of promotion. As to what the hon. and gallant General said with reference to a system of purchase giving a monopoly to the aristocratic class, it is rather difficult to find out what is meant by the aristocracy in this country; but if by "the aristocratic class" he means the Members of the House of Lords and their relations, I apprehend that any one who turns over the pages of the Army List, and looks at the names of the officers, will see that there cannot be a greater mistake than to sup |