SUPPLY—MISCELLANEOUS ESTIMATES. (Hansard, 3 August 1854)

LORD SEYMOUR
said, he would not oppose this Vote, but he hoped that the future President of the Board, whoever he might be, would try to reduce the expenditure. He did not think that both a secretary and an assistant secretary would be required, if the business of the Board was limited to a general supervision. The inspectors, it appeared, had 5,350l. It was said that nearly the whole of that would be repaid by the local boards; but as far as the Members of that House were concerned, that was no sufficient answer. The people had repudiated these expensive processes. First, they had an inquiry forced upon them, to which they objected; next, there were the expenses of the survey, which they were called upon to repay. He would not, however, oppose the Vote, as it was only temporary.

MR. HUME
said, that he approved of the constitution of the Board of Health on the ground that it would relieve the House of a great deal of private business. He wished to see that Board placed on a right principle, but he objected to the men who composed it, and he was sure that by an alteration there, the interests of the department would be materially promoted. With respect to Mr. Chadwick, he did not wish to throw any slur on the past services 1224 of that gentleman. He knew him to be a man of great talent, and he believed that he would be found useful in some other departments of the public service, but he certainly did not approve of his remaining any longer in connection with a Board, in the management of whose business he had undoubtedly displayed want of judgment. He did not wish to see him any longer in the Board of Health, but he hoped that the Government would find employment for him in some other department, where his great powers of inquiry and grasping research might be made available for the interests of the country. In what he said on a former occasion he had no intention of depreciating the former services of Mr. Chadwick.

SIR G. PECIIELL
thought that the Vote was excessive, and that the office expenses were unreasonably large. The whole system should be remodelled, and inquiry was inevitable. He admitted the great talents and the important public services of Mr. Chadwick—in particular his exertions in connection with the Poor Laws—but he was of opinion, with the hon. Member for Montrose, that his connection with the Board of Health should no longer be continued, for he had unfortunately contributed to the unpopularity of that Board, and so impaired in some degree its usefulness. He complained that the Board of Health seemed to spend a good deal of time in circulating the pamphlets of Dr. Southwood Smith.

§ MR. WILKINSON,
as a friend of Dr. Southwood Smith, could not but regret that that gentleman, a man of urbane manners and fine abilities, should have fallen a victim to the great unpopularity of Mr. Chadwick. Provision had been made, or was going to be made, for giving Mr. Chadwick a retiring allowance, and he thought that a similar measure of justice should be awarded to Dr. Smith.

§ SIR WILLIAM MOLESWORTH
said, that the Estimate was altogether a temporary and experimental Estimate; it would be for the new President to consider what ought to be the composition of the Board, and he was sure that the arrangements would be on the most economical scale compatable with efficiency. As to an assistant secretary, it was his opinion that such an officer was essential to the working of the business of the Board, but this, as well as other points, would be for the decision of the President.