§ LORD JOHN BROWNEsaid, he wished to ask the President of the Poor Law Board, Whether, in the promised inquiry into the circumstances attending the removal of Patrick Bourke from Leeds to Westport, he has taken any steps to secure the attendance of a representative of the Irish Poor Law Commissioners?
§ MR. C. P. VILLIERSreplied, that the day after the noble Lord had brought the matter before the House he (Mr. C. P. Villiers) received the papers connected with the subject from Ireland, and he sent them forthwith to the Guardians at Leeds for their explanation. He had only that day received their answer. The Guardians took issue upon almost every fact stated in the papers, and professed their perfect readiness to enter into the fullest investigation of the case, and assist in 796 every way in laying before the Board and Parliament all the facts connected with the case. It would be open to the noble Lord to see their answer, and he might then determine for himself whether any further inquiry was necessary. The ordinary course was to direct an Inspector to proceed to the spot and hold an open inquiry into the matters in question. If that were done, it would be in the power of the noble Lord to send any person he thought proper to watch the evidence and take such steps in the inquiry as he might think necessary. If the noble Lord thought further inquiry were necessary, he (Mr. C. P. Villiers) would then direct notice to be sent both to him and to the Poor Law Commissioners of Ireland of the place and the day when and where the further inquiry would take place.