LORD J. RUSSELL, in moving the Second Reading of the Destitute Persons (Ireland) Bill, stated, that as this was a Bill for the immediate substitution of a different system from that at present in operation, it was desirable that it should be proceeded with forthwith. He thought it right, as the Government had taken steps which were not in conformity with the law, that the sanction of Parliament should first be asked for those measures; but the Bill with that object having now been road a second time, he should propose to proceed first with the Bill the second reading of which he was moving.
§ MR. BOUVERIEurged that the House was about to deal, not with a temporary deficiency, but a sine die deficiency in the produce of the country, and in employment; the measures adopted should therefore be directed mainly to the permanent improvement and development of the powers of the country. Sir R. Kane calculated that it would require five acres of grain to supply as much subsistence as one acre of potatoes. What was to be done with so many hundred thousand families who must be dependent on the public resources? The attempt to employ them had failed; else why give it up? It was now proposed to feed all that mass out of the Consolidated Fund. No man would grudge it, if it would permanently benefit them; but the fear was, that we were but beginning a course in which we must at last stop, and then find their case more disastrous than ever. Without opposing the Bill, he must protest against the principle of attempting to feed an entire population out of the public funds.
§ MR. GOULBURNwished to suggest an amendment to the noble Lord. The Bill proposed to give the Government an indefinite power of drawing upon the Consolidated Fund to any amount. He would suggest to them that it would be more constitutional, and better in every respect, to call upon the House from time to time for supplies, however large, for a definite period. Probably the Government would take this suggestion into consideration.
§ Bill read a second time.
§ House adjourned at half-past Eleven o'clock.