GENERAL BOARD OF HEALTH BILL. (Hansard, 14 February 1853)

§ SIR GEORGE PECHELL

, having presented a petition from Brighton, praying that that town might not be included in the Bill, said he begged to express his pleasure at seeing the right hon. Baronet below him (Sir W. Molesworth) a member of the Government, because he was sure that he would speedily make himself master of the entire subject to which the measure before the House related. During the last ten months the Board of Health had been legislating by provisional orders, which it was quite impossible for those who had to supervise them to comprehend; and he (Sir G. Pechell) felt certain that there were not ten Members of the last Parliament, nor one of the new Parliament, who understood the merits of the question. A provisional order was at present to be obtained from the Board of Health by an application from any town signed by one-tenth of the ratepayers, and when the order was obtained it required months and years to comprehend it. He hoped that the House would prevent the Board of Health from issuing such orders for the future, especially as the powers conferred by them were so extensive. He had confidence in the right hon. Baronet, and hoped that he would take care that some change should soon be made in the present unsatisfactory manner of conducting business by the Board of Health. In fact, the system required to be totally altered. He should not at that stage oppose the introduction of the town of Brighton into the Bill, but he trusted that the inhabitants would be allowed sufficient time to express their opinions on the subject.

§ SIR WILLIAM MOLESWORTH

said, he would not enter upon a defence of the present constitution of the Board of Health, which would terminate at the end of the 88 next Session of Parliament. Before that period he thought that a measure ought to be introduced for the reform of that Board, and then the whole question would be properly considered. Two deputations had waited on him with regard to the application of the Bill to the town of Brighton; the one had stated to him that the unanimous feeling was in favour of the measure, while the other had opposed it. His answer had been that, unless the majority of the ratepayers were favourable, he should not include the town in the operation of the Bill.