Page:The Annual Register 1899.djvu/37

1899.] previously. With regard to the remedy proposed, he regarded migration as an extremely difficult operation, because the people were loth to leave their homes, and in order to carry out the experiment on a large scale it would be necessary to remove them compulsorily. Similarly there was a difficulty in the way of the enlargement of holdings, for in many of the congested districts there was not sufficient suitable land available for the purpose. Where, however, in the immediate neighbourhood of small holdings there was other land that could be divided among them, the Congested Districts Board would undertake the operation. The Congested Districts Board did not now desire compulsory powers, and there was no difficulty about purchasing land for resale to the tenants. The Board had a large number of estates to dispose of, and expected hereafter to find owners willing to sell. Up to the present the work of the Board had been experimental, but it had now reached a point at which its sphere of operations could be usefully extended. For this purpose floating capital to the amount of 60,000l. would be employed and an addition would be made to the income of the Board, so that it would be in a position to spend 30,000l. or 40,000l. a year in improving estates before resale to tenants.

The debate was prolonged until a subsequent day (Feb. 20) without bringing up any fresh elements of interest or importance, and finally the amendment was negatived by 203 to 102 votes.

The wrongs of the Post Office and Telegraph Service clerks were then discussed and dismissed on the ground that Parliament should not interfere with administrative control. The dangers incurred by shunters and others on our railways having been brought forward by Mr. Maddison (Brightside, Sheffield), the President of the Board of Trade stated that he had drafted a bill dealing with the question; but an attempt to extend to British seamen the protection of the Employers' Liability Act was after some discussion negatived, and the Address was finally agreed to (Feb. 21) without amendment.

During this long and practically fruitless debate several events of importance more or less affecting British interests had taken place. Lord Charles Beresford, who had spent the recess in China, studying the political and commercial condition of that unwieldy empire, had returned, and published his views. He held that the rehabilitation of China was possible if entrusted to British, American, German, or even Japanese hands. Any one of these Powers could organise a force of 200,000 men, with which Russia could be kept at bay, and a very simple reform of the financial arrangements of China would enable her to equip and pay such an army. In return China was to throw open her ports and commerce to the world, and to allow the guaranteeing Powers to open mines and otherwise develop the resources of the country.

The sudden death of the President of the French Bepublic produced but slight effect in this country, where he was chiefly