§ Major Beauclerkpresented a Petition from Yapton in Sussex against the New Poor Law, and especially complaining of the part of it relating to workhouses, and the separation of men from their wives. The hon. Member said, that he wished to ask the noble Lord opposite if he was aware that orders had been issued by the Poor Law Commissioners to stop all out-door relief in the present season? Such orders had been sent down to Sussex three days ago, to a place where he (Major Beauclerk) was stopping at the time. He dined in that neighbourhood on Sunday last with a clergyman, and met on that occasion a large body of magistrates. They were all guardians of the poor and all friends of the New Law, but they were all against enforcing such orders at this season of the year. Their universal opinion was, that the enforcement of such orders would spread misery and want in the agricultural districts, and that the old, the sick, and the infirm, who had not anticipated such a measure, 1400 and who had laid by nothing to meet such an emergency, would be consigned to starvation. The clergyman in question, Mr. Constable, a most respectable gentleman, had been a great friend of the Bill, but he had lately withdrawn his name from the list of the guardians of the poor, being of opinion that an attempt was made to carry the Bill too quickly into execution in all its parts. The old and infirm, for instance, who had never calculated on such a measure, should not be exposed to the operation of this severe part of it; it should be reserved for the young and those who were in employment, and who, calculating on such treatment in their old age, would lay by a provision to meet it.
§ Lord John Russellagreed with the hon. Gentleman in the opinion that this Bill should be carried into effect gradually. He had certainly stated that as his opinion to the Poor Law Commissioners, and he thought that their conduct proved that they were fully sensible of the necessity of acting in such a manner. Their Reports were forwarded to him from time to time, and he should certainly particularly attend to what orders they made.
§ Lord Granville Somersetbegged to call the noble Lord's attention to the unions of parishes insisted upon by the Commissioners. A case of great hardship in that way had occurred in Gloucestershire, where a number of agricultural parishes had been united to the town parishes of Gloucester. The Commissioners, in his opinion, assigned no good reason for making the union except that the principle was acted upon by them throughout the country. The greatest inconvenience would arise from the union of two classes of parishes so thoroughly distinct.
§ Lord John Russellhad no direct power to control the proceedings of the Commissioners in that respect, but he would cause an inquiry to be made into the matter, and he would ask the Commissioners for the grounds of their proceeding. That was all he could do.
§ Mr. Robinsonwas sorry that the noble Lord had not answered the question as to whether the Commissioners had issued orders to put an end to out-door relief. He had been himself friendly to the general principle of the Bill, but there was one Clause in it that he always looked upon as a horrid one—he alluded to the Bastardy Clause. It was a disgraceful enactment. He would caution the noble Lord against taking too favourable a view of the opera- 1401 tion of the Bill during the present cheapness of food.
§ Major Beauclerksaid, that a friend of his had informed him that in a place in Surrey the men had been separated from their wives in the workhouse, and their children had been actually sent a distance of six miles to another place. These proceedings might be only temporary, arising from the want of workhouse accommodation, but they excited bitter feelings amongst the poor, and they should, if possible, be avoided.
§ Lord John Russelldid not find any fault with the hon. Gentleman for bringing forward this Petition, as the Session was so near its end; but not having had any notice on the subject, he (Lord J. Russell) had not had an opportunity of communicating with the Commissioners with regard to those orders they were stated to have issued. He should certainly communicate with them on the matter. With regard to the appointment of medical men, the subject had been under his consideration, and he had sent to inquire respecting it to the Poor Law Commissioners. They stated to him that they took particular care to supply a sufficient number of medical men for attendance on the poor. He in reply, begged them to pay particular attention to that point, as nothing would be more calculated to conciliate the good feeling of the people in regard to the operation of the Bill than a sufficient supply of medical aid for their sick.