§ VISCOUNT MORPETHmoved the Second Reading of the Public Health Bill; he hoped that the House would consent to the second reading now, on the understanding that a fair interval should be given for the consideration of the clauses.
§ MR. URQUHARTsaid, he would not oppose the second reading of the Bill; but he thought it tended to increase that mode of foreign government which was known by the name of "centralization." He reserved to himself full power of objecting, in Committee, to all clauses which seemed to him to have such a tendency.
§ MR. WAKLEYsaid, the noble Lord was aware that medical men had made great exertions with respect to sanitary measures—that they had applied unremitting industry, great ability, and incessant labour to this important subject. And how were they rewarded? As usual, the lawyers who drew this Bill had excluded from it everything relating to medical officers. Now the lawyers never missed an opportunity of getting their own body into places; but it would scarcely be credited that in this Bill relating to the public health there was not a single provision for the introduction of medical officers. He had no doubt there were lawyer candidates twenty feet deep, for all places that could be filled by lawyers; but, from the way in 1023 which the medical practitioners were treated by the Bill, they might regard themselves as insulted, not by the noble Lord, who took an interest in medical matters, and was a supporter of an institution in the metropolis; but which, however, medical men did not very much admire. In this Bill the noble Lord had suddenly mesmerised the medical profession. Under this Bill the general Board of Health was to consist of five persons, the Chief Commissioner of Woods and Forests, and four others, two of whom were to be paid. Would the noble Lord object to the introduction of a clause providing that the two who were to be paid—who were to do the work and ought to be men of ability and knowledge—should be duly qualified members of the medical profession?
§ VISCOUNT MORPETHsaid, he was glad of the opportunity of explaining a misapprehension which he believed prevailed; he had heard the same objection which now came authoritatively from the hon. Member. He could not admit that the medical profession were slighted; for, in the first place, the Bill gave power to the Treasury of appointing such a number of superintending inspectors as might be thought fit; and from the nature of the thing a considerable number of them ought to consist of medical men or engineers, as circumstances might require. Then the Bill gave power to the local boards to appoint officers to carry out the provisions of the Bill, who might be medical men. With respect to the two members of the general board in London, it was the determination of the Government, if called upon, to exercise a choice, to select the two fittest men they could find, and he could not bind himself by any more stringent declaration as to who they might be.
§ LORD DUDLEY STUARTdid not rise for the purpose of offering any opposition to the second reading of this Bill; on the contrary, he was convinced that some measure for promoting the public health and providing for those objects which the Bill contemplated was imperatively requisite. The subject, however, was too important to be discussed in so thin a House; and it was his opinion, that if it had not been for what fell from the right hon. Baronet the Secretary of State for the Home Department, who was understood to say that the Bill should not be considered that evening, although it stood in the list of Orders of the Day, the House would have been in a very different condition. He was quite 1024 ready to give his noble Friend at the head of the Woods and Forests every possible credit for the ability, the diligence, and the perseverance he had displayed in preparing this measure; but there was one part of his noble Friend's conduct which he did not quite understand. The noble Lord declared that it was not his intention to make this Bill applicable to the metropolis; and yet on being asked to introduce a clause, similar to that which there was in the Bill of last year, exempting the metropolis, he declined to do so. Why should the noble Lord object to bring in a clause, the object of which was to give effect to his own intentions? The hon. Baronet his (Lord Dudley Stuart's) Colleague, had, however, given notice of his intention to move such a clause. He hoped he would persevere in it; and he should have his (Lord Dudley Stuart's) best support.
§ MR. HENLEYwas glad that steps had at last been taken to ensure good sanitary legislation; but he was afraid that this Bill was not a hopeful one, and that it would not get on well. The clause relating to powers of appeal would, he anticipated, occasion the noble Lord some difficulty when it came to be discussed in Committee. There was no use in concealing the fact that some dissatisfaction had arisen on finding that the country districts would be dragged in to pay the expenses of the towns with which they had nothing to do. This would be pointed out as a serious objection to the measure, and he trusted that the noble Lord would reconsider the matter. There was no doubt that the Bill would be productive of a large amount of public good, but it would require some amendments.
§ Bill read a second time.