§ MR. FAGAN, in moving for leave to bring in a Bill for securing the more effectual promotion of the Medical and Surgical Sciences in the Queen's University in Ireland, by enabling the ratepayers, if they think fit, of the unions of Cork, Belfast, and Galway, respectively, to provide for the enlargement and better maintenance of certain hospitals in said cities and towns, and for the further extension of the provisions of the Act of the eighth and ninth years of Her present Majesty, to endow new colleges for the advancement of learning in Ireland, said that it was nearly similar to a Bill which had been introduced by the Government about two Sessions ago, but which had contained certain objectionable provisions from which his Bill was free, and therefore it was so far an improvement on that measure. One change which he proposed was that the charge of the maintenance of the hospital should be defrayed out of the poor rate instead of the grand jury cess, thus transferring it from a tax paid entirely by the occupier to one paid equally by the landlord and tenant. He also provided that the workhouse hospitals should not come under the operation of the Bill, and took every precaution to guard the rights and functions of the physician of the hospitals affected by it. His constituents took the greatest interest in the Bill, without which the study of medical science in the locality which he represented would fall to the ground; but, as he did not know what might be the feeling in Belfast and Galway, he had incorporated the clauses of the Towns Improvement Act, so that the Bill would not be put in force without the consent of the ratepayers.
§ MR. GROGANexpressed his regret that he felt it his duty to oppose the introduction of this Bill, which would have the effect of imposing a new and most objectionable tax upon the people of Ireland. A similar measure was submitted to the House about a year and a half ago by the responsible advisers of the Crown, but it involved so wide a departure from the principle of the poor law that it was withdrawn. That, he thought, was a reason which should induce the House to reject this Motion. He also opposed the Motion on the ground that a Commission was now inquiring into the whole system of education pursued in the colleges, and that the new Secretary for Ireland, who was thoroughly 994 conversant with the subject, had not at present a seat in the House, and was therefore unable to afford them the advantage of his information and opinions. The Bill tended to introduce into Ireland the principle of the law of settlement as it prevailed in England, and that was strongly objected to in Ireland.
§ MR. J. D. FITZGERALDsaid, the subject excited great interest among the medical profession in Ireland, especially in the three cities referred to, and the introduction of the Bill did not bind the House to an assent to its provisions. The Government, therefore, did not mean to oppose the Motion to lay the Bill on the table, as a matter proper for consideration. On the second reading the Secretary for Ireland would be in his place, and would then be able to state the course which the Government would take. He therefore hoped the introduction of the Bill would not be opposed.
LORD NAASdid not oppose the introduction of the Bill, but it appeared to contain more than one objectionable principle. It imposed the necessity of paying a rate for the support of hospitals intended for other purposes than the relief of the poor, and to change the present control of county infirmaries and other places of that description.
Bill for securing the more effectual promotion of the Medical and Surgical Sciences in the Queen's University in Ireland, by enabling the Ratepayers of the Unions of Cork, Belfast, and Galway, respectively, to provide for the enlargement and better maintenance of certain hospitals in the said cities and towns, and for the further extension of the provisions of the Act of the eighth and ninth years of Her present Majesty to endow new colleges for the advancement of learning in Ireland, ordered to be brought in by Mr. FAGAN and Mr, BEAMISH.
§ Bill read 1°.