POOR LAW—HALIFAX UNION. (Hansard, 15 March 1843)

§ Sir J. Graham
objected to the return as it at present stood. He hoped that the hon. Member would withdraw his motion.

§ Mr. Ferrand
said, that he could not withdraw the motion. It appeared from the objection of the right hon. Baronet, that there was something behind the scenes which the Secretary for the Home Department wished to conceal from the public. He would divide the House on the subject.

§ Sir R. Peel
wished the hon. Gentleman not to go to a division under the impression that the Government had any thing to conceal. Anything that could fairly be brought under the cognizance of the House would be freely communicated. His right hon. Friend the Secretary for the Home Department had given an assurance that he was ready to produce all the information which he possessed relative to the establishment of that which had been called by so many names. It was not fair to assume, as the motion of the hon. Gentleman did, that upon a particular day a body of guardians had misconducted themselves. He would propose to substitute for the motion of the hon. Member— That there shall be laid before this House a copy of the minutes and proceedings of the board of guardians of the union of Halifax, held on the 1st of March, as far as relates to the administration of the New Poor-law within the union; also a copy of any resolution for the erection of a rag-mill made on that or any other day.

§ Colonel Sibthorp
hoped the hon. Gentleman would be satisfied with the offer made by the Government, and not divide the House.

§ Mr. Ferrand
would not be satisfied with less than the whole of the resolutions passed by the board on the 1st of March, together with the notices of the resolutions served by the clerk to the board.

§ Sir J. Graham
could assure the hon. Gentleman that, in consequence of what had taken place in the House upon the subject of the rag-mill, he had expressed a strong opinion to the Poor-law Commissioners against its use. The commissioners had communicated that opinion to all the unions, and such mills would not be used again.

§ Mr. T. Duncombe
hoped the Government would have no objection to produce the resolution, passed by the board on the same day, for the exclusion of the reporters for the public press.

§ Captain Pechell
was very happy to hear what had fallen from the right hon. Secretary for the Home Department, and he trusted he would set his face against the grinding of bones for manure in workhouses.

Mr. B. Denison
thought the notices ought to be produced; they formed a most important part of the proceedings of the board.

§ Mr. Ferrand
said, the inhabitants of Halifax complained that the board held on the 1st of March, was one packed for the purpose of doing the work of the assistant-commissioner, and that notices had not been served on the whole body. He would be content to withdraw his motion, if the right hon. Baronet would add a copy of the notices given at any preceding meeting of the board of any resolution passed on the 1 st of March; and he would have no objection to have the resolution for excluding reporters. If the notices were refused he would divide the House.

§ Sir J. Graham
said, no notice had been given in respect of the resolutions which was complained of as a breach of the privileges of that House, but after the question had been decided on two occasions by the House, he deprecated its being again renewed. As to the other resolution, he thought it was highly inexpedient for the House to direct any board of guardians to admit or exclude reporters. It was better left to themselves.

Sir R. Peel's
motion agreed to.

List of the AYES.
Archdall, Capt. M.	Napier, Sir C.
Blackstone, W. S.	Pechell, Capt.
Colvile, C. R.	Wallace, R.
Crawford, W. S.	Yorke, H. R.
Duncombe, T.	TELLERS.
Henley, J. W.	Ferrand, W. B.
Hume, J.	Borthwick, P.

List of the NOES.
Acland, Sir T. D.	Hervey, Lord A.
Acland, T. D.	Hindley, C.
Aldam, W.	Hodgson, R.
Antrobus, E.	Hughes, W. B.
Barrington, Visct.	Hutt, W.
Baskerville, T. B. M.	Jermyn, Earl
Blake, M. J.	Labouchere, rt. hn. H.
Blake, Sir V.	Lincoln, Earl of
Brotherton, J.	Mackenzie, W. F.
Cavendish, hon. G. H.	M'Geachy, F. A.
Childers, J. W.	Martin, C. W.
Clerk, Sir G.	Masterman, J.
Cripps, W.	Nicholl, rt. hon. J.
Darby, G.	Northland, Visct.
Dickinson, F. H.	Peel, rt. hn. Sir R.
Douglas, Sir C. E.	Plumptre, J. P.
Eliot, Lord	Pringle, A.
Filmer, Sir E.	Pusey, P.
Flower, Sir J.	Rushbrooke, Col.
Gaskell, J. Milnes	Sibthorp, Col.
Gladstone, rt. hn. W. E.	Stanley, Lord
Gordon, hon. Capt.	Sutton, hon. H. M.
Goulburn, rt. hn. H.	Tufnell, H.
Graham, rt. hn. Sir J.	Wood, C.
Grey, rt. hon. Sir G.	Young, J.
Hamilton, W.J.	TELLERS.
Hardinge, rt. hn. Sir H.	Freemantle, Sir T.
Herbert, hon. S.	Baring, H.