HC Deb 19 February 1847 vol 90 cc297-9
LORD J. RUSSELL

moved for leave to bring in a Bill for the appointment of a board for the supervision of the administration of the laws for the relief of the poor in Ireland.

CAPTAIN PECHELL

would take that opportunity of saying, that he, in common with many other Members, thought the time was come when the noble Lord ought to give some assurance to the country that the present Poor Law Commissioners for this country should be no longer allowed to preside over the administration of the relief of the poor. It had been proved by a solemn vote of that House, that they were not worthy to retain their positions, and not worthy of the confidence of the country; and he did think the time was come when the noble Lord, in accordance with his announcement at the beginning of the Session, ought to give notice of a similar measure for England, to that which he had just moved for Ireland. There had been reports in the country that it was the intention of the noble Lord to screen these Commissioners; but he could tell him that nothing would so much tend to lessen the confidence of the country in the noble Lord's Government, as his throwing his power and influence into the scale in order to keep these persons still in authority,

LORD J. RUSSELL

thought it was quite necessary after what the hon. and gallant Gentleman had said, that he (Lord J. Russell) should explain the course he intended to take. He had stated on a former occasion that he should propose a different mode of administration of the poor law; but the hon. and gallant Gentleman must be perfectly aware that the House had of late been engaged, and necessarily engaged, with measures for the relief of Ireland, and moreover engaged not only with measures of the Government of that nature, but with the measure brought in by the noble Lord opposite. It would have been, in his opinion, inexpedient and wrong in the Government, if they had said, "We will put aside all these measures for the relief of Ireland, and take the poor law for England instead." He thought it necessary, as the usual time was approaching, that the House should have the estimates of the year before them without any further delay, and that the Mutiny Bill should be passed. He should propose, after that, to proceed with various measures for Ireland, necessarily connected with the Bill he now proposed. In stating, on a former occasion, that he meant to propose a new mode of administering the poor law in England, he had stated at the same time that he did not found the proposed change on the report of the Andover Union Committee; he stated that he founded his proposal on the general experience of the working of the commission, and with regard to matters connected with the duties of the Poor Law Commissioners coming before that House. The hon. and gallant Member seemed to think that the proposal was to be founded on the report of the Andover Union Committee. He repeated that he did not wish to shrink in any way from saying that he did not think the present Poor Law Commissioners were at all undeserving the confidence of the Government or Parliament; but he thought that on other grounds the commission ought to be formed in another way; but if any resolution condemning the conduct of the Poor Law Commissioners were moved, he should feel it his duty to defend that conduct.

MR. SMITH O'BRIEN

suggested that it was very desirable that one of the three Poor Law Commissioners in Ireland should always be a medical man.

MR. ETWALL

rose to ask the noble Lord a question. He wished to know whether the noble Lord intended that the Poor Law Commission, constituted as at present, was to remain in force for any time longer; for he thought the people of England would not be satisfied that the poor laws should be administered by a commission in which they had no confidence?

LORD J. RUSSELL

said, he had already stated that it was not his intention to postpone bringing forward the measures for the relief of the people of Ireland, for the purpose of introducing a measure relating to the poor law England.

Motion agreed to.

House adjourned at One o'clock.