SIR DENHAM NORREYS, in asking the following questions of the right hon. Secretary for Ireland, bogged to disclaim any intention of throwing the slightest imputation on the gentlemen of the Clogheen board of guardians, who were most intelligent and efficient. What he wished to know was: Whether the attention of the Poor Law Commissioners had been called to a resolution of the Clogheen board of guardians relative to the employment of paupers in manufacturing articles for sale? And whether the Commissioners were determined to discountenance the conversion of workhouses into manufacto- 633 tories? And, also, whether the Commissioners had sufficient power, under the existing law, to prevent such use of the workhouses?
§ SIR WILLIAM SOMERVILLE, in reply, said, that the attention of the Poor Law Commissioners had been called to the resolution alluded to by the hon. Baronet, and that a correspondence had taken place on the subject, which would be laid on the table when he received it, if the hon. Baronet wished to move for its production. The Commissioners had always opposed themselves to the conversion of workhouses into manufactories; but the rule could not he carried to such an extent as to put an end altogether to industrial employment in workhouses. If the Commissioners did so, they would be acting contrary to the 14th Article of the general workhouse regulations. The Commissioners did not permit any dealing with master manufacturers; and he begged to refer the hon. Baronet to the opinions of the Commissioners, in the 20th and 23rd paragraph of the Third Annual Report, where this subject was specially alluded to.