§ MR. H. B. SHERIDANsaid, he wished to ask the Secretary to the Poor Law Board, What steps the Government propose to take to remedy the alleged evils and hardships which have resulted from the abolition of the Compound-Householder; whether it is intended to introduce home general scheme of uniformity of Poor Rate, or whether it is intended to await the 246 Report of the Select Committee on Poor Rates Assessment, &c.?
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACHsaid, in reply, that, when his attention was first drawn to the Question of the hon. Gentleman, it occurred to him, remembering the discussions and divisions of last, year with reference to the compound-householder, that it ought to have been addressed to some more responsible Member of Her Majesty's Government. The Bill introduced by the Poor Law Department in the present Session in no way affected the compound-householder. The hon. Member must be aware that on the Motion of the hon. and learned Member for the Tower Hamlets (Mr. Ayrton) a Select Committee had been appointed to consider this and other questions. Now, if he might offer his private opinion, he thought that neither the House nor the Government would be likely to legislate on the subject without a full consideration of the Report of that Committee.