Mr. Chaplinmoved the second reading of the Spilsby Poor Bill, for the purpose of postponing it for a month. He was aware that there were many objectionable clauses in it; but, perhaps, with several alterations, it might be rendered worthy the attention of the House.
Sir S. Romillywas anxious to give every opportunity for improvement, where improvement was possible, but the whole frame and object of the Bill was bad: there was not a single clause but what was liable to objection. He again adverted to some of the most extraordinary provisions of this Bill, which was intended to operate upon twenty united parishes. The directors were empowered to compel all the poor throughout the whole extent of these parishes, whether asking for relief or not, to go into this workhouse. They were to have all the authority of magistrates with respect to such as they should consider vagrants. They were to be allowed to enter houses at their discretion to search for vagrants. They might commit to solitary imprisonment, without limit, the poor which they collected, and administer moderate correction for misbehaviour—in other words, they were to have the power of flogging the poor under their controul, at their own discretion. They might besides, by this Bill, seize all the poor children in the parish, whether calling for relief or not, and bind them apprentices at their discretion. He understood that many of the most respectable inhabitants of Spilsby had never heard of such a Bill, and that they strongly disapproved of its provisions. He next adverted to some very objectionable provisions in acts relating to the poor, that had passed in former sessions, the St. Paul's Shadwell; the St. George's Southwark acts, &c. and 515 recommended a more strict attention to such Bills in future. He thought that a remedy to these Workhouse Regulations was urgently required, and concluded by proposing that the Bill be read a second time this day six months.
§ Mr. Ellisonwished, that the motion for a month's postponement should be agreed to, but mentioned that the magistrates of Lincoln had nothing to do with the bill, many of the provisions of which no one could read without indignation.
§ Mr. Giddycondemned several of the provisions of the Bill, but stated that some of these evils were the necessary effect of the poor laws, which induced the poor to try every artifice to get relief from the parish, and tempted the parish to resort to improper expedients to prevent such demands. He recommended to some person connected with government, to consider of an alteration in the general system.
Mr. Rose, while he acknowledged that our poor laws were in several respects objectionable, was sorry that they should be thus generally censured before there was any thing to adopt in their stead.
§ Mr. Curwencondemned the principle of the Bill, and gave it as his opinion, that with proper regulations, the poor might be better supported at one-fourth of the present expence.
After a few words from general Tarleton and Mr. G. Vansittart, the Bill was rejected without a division.