§ Order for Committee read.
§ The CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERmoved that the House go into Committee upon this Bill.
§ MR. BRIGHTsaid, that the House were in perfect ignorance as to its nature.
§ The CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERsaid, the object of the Bill was to empower advances to be made to carry out the objects of the Act passed last Session. The House was quite aware of the great evils which arose from the overcrowded state of the burial places in the metropolis; and with a view to remove them, an Act had been passed last Session which enabled the Board of Health to raise money by borrowing, for the purpose of constructing cemeteries, and then closing such as were in an overcrowded state. The Board of Health had reason to suppose, until a week ago, that they could raise the money; but some difficulties arose as to the security. The Board not being a permanent body, additional powers were therefore necessary, and in the mean time, in order not to forego the advantages which would arise from the closing of some cemeteries, and to complete the negotiations now pending, be was willing to advance some money, in order to secure so desirable an object. When the question of further powers came before the House, there would be ample opportunity for discussing the whole construction of the Board. He would desire to see the arrangement of all such matters as were connected with the public health vested in the hands of a municipal body.
§ In reply to Mr. BRIGHT,
§ The CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERsaid, that the sum he proposed to grant was 130,000l.
§ MR. BRIGHTsaid, a more extraordinary proposition had never been made to the House. The Board of Health had led them to believe that 500,000l. would be the whole sum they would require for compensation and purchases. Now, from the information which he received, that would not be half the amount which they would find necessary. The Bill of last year was 1367 most discreditable to the Government and to the Secretary of the Board. That gentleman was no doubt very ingenious; and whenever he had a board with such persons as Lord Shaftesbury sitting at it, he would be sure to pull the wire. And he did pull the wire, for if they granted the sum now asked for, Mr. Chadwick would become the arbitrary dispenser of more patronage than was in the gift of officers filling the highest situations in the Government. He would agree to the present vote if the Chancellor of the Exchequer would promise to put the disposition of the questions of water, cemeteries, and sewerage under the management and control of a municipal authority. In concluding, he would move that the Board of Bealth return a specific account of everything which they had done, and then the House would be in a position to see whether it was necessary that they should grant the money.
§ SIR B. HALLexpressed his intention of opposing the grant upon every occasion and upon every stage.
§ Committee deferred till To-morrow.
§ House adjourned at a quarter before Two o'clock.