§ Mr. F. Frenchrose to put the question to the right hon. Baronet the Home Secretary of which he gave notice yesterday. He was anxious to know whether a statement 209 which had appeared in the Freeman's Journal, respecting executions which had been put on the goods and furniture in some union workhouses in Ireland, was correct. If it were correct, it added not a little to the experience they already had as to the working of the Poor Law system in that country. One statement to which he referred said:—
We understand that no less than four executions have been laid upon the furniture in the Ballinrobe poor-house; one at the suit of Boileau, Son, and George, druggists; the other three at the suit of contractors; for provisions and fuel. An execution had also been laid upon the furniture of the Castlebar Union Workhouse at the suit of the foregoing gentlemen.The other statement on which he sought information was this:—The goods and chattels of the Tuam workhouse were sold under an execution on Monday last, at the suit of Mr. Thomas Brenan, of Tuam. There was a considerable sacrifice of property—blankets, which were supplied at 9s. and 10s. per pair, were sold at from 4s. 6d. to 5s. 6d. per pair; ticken beds, which cost 5s. 7d. per pair, sold at 2s. 4d. each; and sheets, at 1s. 10d. and 2s. per pair. It is worthy of remark, that the contractors who supplied those articles are yet unpaid, and are three years out of their money.
§ Sir James Grahamsaid, that the hon. Gentleman had given notice of his intention to put a question to him, merely with respect to the Tuam Union. His inquiries had been consequently only directed to that Union. Of the affairs of the others referred to by the hon. Gentleman he was not cognizant. With respect, however, to Tuam, he could state that it was true that an execution had been put in on the goods in the house. The building occupied as the Union belonged to a private person. The rent was in arrear, and an execution for rent was put in by the landlord. He had also to state what were the circumstances of the Union in question. The Board of Guardians had absolutely declined to carry the act into execution—refusing even to appoint collectors of rates. No rates having been thus collected over the parishes comprised in the Union, the Poor Law authorities, in November last, moved for a mandamus in the Court of Queen's Bench, calling on the Board of Guardians to appoint collectors. The rule had since been made absolute; it had been served collectively and individually on the members of the Board of Guardians, and they must forthwith proceed to appoint 210 collectors; and, as soon as that took place, the effect of these executions would be nullified, the sums paid under them would be borne by the rates, and the law would be carried into effect.