OBSERVATIONS. (Hansard, 9 February 1870)

§ MR. CORRANCE

said, that, considering the wide range of subjects dealt with in the Queen's Speech, it might be thought that he was making an unreasonable objection when he called attention to what he thought an important omission. As this Parliament was elected, to a large extent, by members of the working classes, there seemed to him to be a remarkable absence of reference to measures for the benefit of those classes. The only question in the Address which appeared to have a bearing upon them was that of primary education; and he believed that was not resolved on until a late period. One subject pressed very gravely upon the nation at this time—namely, our condition with regard to pauperism and the Poor Laws. He was happy to find, from some Notices which he saw on the Paper, that this subject was about to be partially treated. Still he could not help remarking on the omission of all reference to it in the Queen's Speech. Last year, he mentioned three subjects which he thought had been omitted in a similar manner. They were Local Taxation, the Cattle Plague, and Pauperism. One of these questions formed part of the legislation of last Session, and was dealt with by the Go- 113 vernment; and on the first they had a satisfactory assurance that it would be dealt with in the course of this Session; but, with regard to Pauperism and the Poor Laws, there was no such promise in the Speech. He had taken an opportunity of bringing the whole question before the House last Session, and he thought it met with a very inadequate response from the Treasury Bench. Since then nothing whatever had been done. No doubt, a Minute had been issued, but the effect it had produced, and the manner in which it had been received, were proofs positive of the want to which he now called attention. The Minute had fallen entirely short of its object. Under such circumstances, he felt justified in asking the serious attention of the House to the necessity of the further consideration of the subject.