VISCOUNT DUNCANbegged to call the attention of the right hon. Gentleman the Secretary of State for the Home Department to the letter circulated that morning from Mr. Otway to the Poor Law Commissioners, in reference to the Castlebar union. Mr. Otway stated that, on an examination of the rate-books of that union, he had found that rates were now due from solvent parties, and that they were recoverable. The letter further alluded to a belief which generally prevailed, that the Government would see the expediency of making advances on the security of the several unions; and what he (Viscount Duncan) now wished to ask was, was it the intention of the Government to make 950 any such advances of public money, and also what steps had been taken to enforce the collection of rates due by solvent parties in the Castlebar union?
§ SIR G. GREYSince the instructions, an explanation of which had already been given, had been addressed to the Lord Lieutenant, no additional instructions had been issued on this subject. With regard to the latter question put by the noble Lord, he would find, on referring to page 20 of the correspondence relating to the union workhouses in Ireland, that on the 29th of January the Poor Law Commissioners wrote to the board of guardians of the Castlebar union directing that there should be transmitted to them as soon as possible a list of all defaulters in the payment of poor-rates in the union; and that, on the same day, in another communication, they desired the board to collect rates as usual, and to make every exertion to enforce the payment of the rates on all parties in arrear.
§ MR. B. ESCOTTdesired to know if the right hon. Gentleman could state whether or not Lord Lucan had paid his share of the rates of that union; and if he had not, had he refused on the ground of poverty?
§ SIR G. GREYIt had been stated in very strong terms in that House, and repeated elsewhere, that Lord Lucan was not the person from whom the rates, for which he was assessed and which he had refused to pay, were due, and he had no further information to give on that subject. Lord Lucan was now in Ireland; and if, on more minute inquiry, he should find that he was liable, it was to be hoped he would no longer refuse to pay the rates.
§ MR. P. SCROPEasked if the right hon. Gentleman was aware that the Government had advanced large sums, the rates not having been paid up regularly, in the Cavan union?
§ SIR G. GREYIf the hon. Gentleman had read more carefully the correspondence which had been laid on the Table, he would have seen that there was no intention of relieving the ratepayers further in any union at the expense of the Treasury. Directions had been addressed to the Pool Law Commissioners, and also he might say to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, that no means should be left untried by which the collection of rates from solvent parties should be enforced. At the same time it was suggested that, in urgent cases, and to prevent that additional suffering and distress which would result from the clos- 951 ing of a workhouse, the Lord Lieutenant should advance relief, at certain times, and as his discretion might dictate. The Cavan union was not the only union entitled by an order from the Treasury to such indulgence; and the same discretion had been exercised towards that union which would be evinced elsewhere.
§ MR. HUMEwould recommend that a resolution be adopted that relief should be forwarded to the different unions only in proportion to the amount of rates which had been paid.
§ SIR G. GREYapprehended that the hon. Gentleman, to effect that object, would have to submit a Motion to, and obtain the sanction of, the House.