§ Mr. Wakleypresented a petition, signed by forty medical practitioners, complaining of the contracts entered into for attending the poor-houses in the neighbourhood of Gloucester. The petitioners alleged, that instead of the practice being beneficial, it was attended with the most ruinous and cruel consequences to the poor, who were farmed out to the lowest bidder. The hon. Member stated, that when the subject was brought before the House, he would take the opportunity to express his sentiments on the abominable system, and he trusted that hon. Members would express themselves in such terms as would tend to its total abolition.
§ Mr. Humehoped his hon. Friend would abstain from further observations at present, and that when the Poor-law Amendment Bill was brought before the House to have some defects in it corrected, that the hon. Member would not lose sight of the subject of which the petitioners complained. The system of farming, every one must admit, was highly objectionable, and required to be done away with; but the time to animadvert on it was, when it came in a substantial form before them.
§ Mr. Wakleywas desirous of stating one fact of a particular nature.
§ The SpeakerI call the attention of the hon. Member to the fact, that he has already declared that this matter will be brought under the consideration of the House in a substantive form. Now, if the hon. Gentleman is about to enter into a statement of facts, it is to he presumed that other hon. Members may wish to address the House upon those facts; and that the 669 House will thus be involved in a protracted discussion, which can only tend to delay the progress of business.
§ Mr. Wakleywas desirous of knowing by what rule the presentation of petitions to that House was regulated. It was only a few evenings ago that a petition was presented by an hon. Member from three officers of the East-India Company, praying for compensation, which led to a debate of an hour's duration, and he (Mr. Wakley) was prevented from mentioning a particular fact that would scarcely occupy a minute.
§ The SpeakerThe hon. Member must be perfectly aware that the petition to which he has alluded, which was presented by the hon. Member for Tynemouth, had immediate relation to a case of personal feelings and supposed injury. The hon. Member for Finsbury will find, moreover, that in that instance, the hon. Gentleman who presented the petition gave a previous notice of his intention to do so; and thus the matter was brought before the House. The hon. Member for Finsbury has stated, that this subject will be brought before the House; and I again say, if he is about to state a variety of facts, then all other Members who may wish to take part in this discussion, will be at liberty to do so, to the great inconvenience of others who are waiting to present petitions.
§ Petition to lie on the table.