HC Deb 07 July 1847 vol 94 cc12-3
MR. W. H. BODKIN

moved the Second Reading of this Bill. Without entering at all into the question of the law of settlement, he thought it must be obvious that some remedy was required for the evils inflicted on certain classes of the poor by the Bill of last Session. Poor persons, who were previously supported by their own parishes while they resided in adjoining parishes, were now neglected, or left no resource except the workhouse; and he thought the simplest way to obviate this evil was to adopt the course proposed to be taken by the Bill before the House, namely, to make the common fund of the union available for the maintenance of such persons. This plan, though by no means a universal remedy for the evils of the Poor Removal Act, would, he thought, disarm a great deal of the opposition which had been raised to that measure.

MR. CHRISTOPHER

admitted the simplicity of the Bill; but then there could be nothing more simple in principle than to abolish the whole parochial system of England altogether. He thought the Bill advanced a step in that direction, and tended to the establishment of a national rating, and he therefore objected to it. He would not, however, carry his opposition so far as to object to the second reading.

SIR G. GREY

approved of the principle of the measure; the main objection to it seemed to be that it did not go far enough, leaving untouched some of the evils arising from the present system.

MR. WAKLEY

considered that the hon. and learned Member for Rochester had done an essential public service in proposing this Bill; and he also thought that much credit was due to the Government for the ready assent they had given to the introduction of the measure. It was admitted that there were two grievances under the existing law; the one being the burden of the expense which was thrown upon particular parishes, and the other the treatment of the poor induced by that expenditure. This Bill, however, would meet both those difficulties. In his opinion, all that had taken place with reference to this subject of late years tended to show the necessity of making the charge of maintaining the poor a national charge. He believed the poor would never be properly treated until such an arrangement was made.

Bill read a second time.

House adjourned at a quarter before Six o'clock.