Commons Sitting of 16 July 1842

MINUTES.
BILLS. Public.—Committed.— Lunatic Asylums; Fisheries (Ireland).
PETITIONS PRESENTED. From Electors of Belfast, against the Issue of a New Writ for Belfast before the Registration shall be revised.—From Cork, for the Abolition of Night Work in the Baking Trade.—Prom Carlisle, for Medical Reform.—From the Convention of Burghs (Scotland) for the Repeal of the Corn-laws.

RIOTS IN THE STAFFORDSHIRE COLLIERIES.
Mr. Ricardoasked the right boo. Gentleman, the Secretary for the Horne Department, whether the Government had received any intimation of the disturbances in Staffordshire.
Sir J. Grahamsaid, that reports of some disturbances which had recently occurred in the pottery districts had reached the Government, but he was happy to state that there was nothing of an alarming nature in those reports. The necessary precautions had been taken for the preservation of the peace, for which purpose a small military force had been found sufficient.

MILLS AND FACTORIES.
Lord Ashleywished to hear from the right hon. Baronet at the head of the Home Department,

223
whether Government intended to introduce a bill this year for altering and amending the act relative to mills and factories.
Sir J. Grahamsaid, it was not the intention of Government to introduce such a measure this Session. [Lord Ashley: " Hear."] He understood the cheer of his noble Friend. It was true that he (Sir J. Graham) had informed his noble Friend in private, that it had been the intention of Government to introduce such a bill; but, considering the advanced stage of the Session, the state in which public business now stood, and the thin attendance of Members, he did not think himself bound by any pledge given in private.

LICENSED LUNATIC ASYLUMS.
On the motion that the Order of the Day for the further consideration of the report upon this bill be proceeded with,
Mr. Hawessuggested the postponement of the measure, as one requiring further discussion.
Lord G. Somersetreplied, that the bill was framed for the purpose of procuring additional information, in order to legislate permanently upon the subject.
House in committee.
On the first clause,
Lord Ashleyexpressed a hope that the measure would tend to ameliorate the condition of the pauper lunatics throughout the kingdom. He had formerly entertained some doubts as to the practicability of carrying out the system of non-restraint, but those doubts had been removed by a visit which he had lately made to the Hanwell Asylum. Having witnessed this system pursued there, he felt that he could not speak too highly either of the system itself or the manner in which it was carried out by the talented superintendent, Dr. Connolly.
Bill passed through committee.
House resumed.

FISHERIES (IRELAND).
Captain Jonesurged the propriety of allowing to b II to stand over till next Session.
Lord Eliotcould not consent to the proposition. The present state of the law in Ireland with respect to fisheries was most anomalous and unsatisfactory; and as to the bill now before the House, the general feeling in Ireland was in its favour.
Bill, with amendments, passed through committee.
House resumed, and adjourned at five o'clock.