HC Deb 16 July 1863 vol 172 cc934-5

Bill, as amended, considered.

MR. CHILDERS moved the addition of the following clause:— So much of the 62nd section of the Act of the 4 & 5 Will. IV., c. 76, as provides that the aggregate amount of money expended in any one year in and about the emigration of poor persons having settlements in any parish shall not exceed one-half the average yearly poor-rate raised in the parish during the three preceding years, shall be suspended during the continuance of this Act.

Clause— (So much of the sixty-second section of the Act of the fourth and fifth William the Fourth, chapter seventy-six, as provides that the aggregate amount of money expended in any one year in and about the emigration of poor persons having settlements in any parish shall not exceed one-half the average yearly poor rate raised in the parish during the three preceding years, shall be suspended during the continuance of this Act, with respect to all parishes within the operation thereof,)—(Mr. Childers,) —brought up, and read 1°.

MR. C. P. VILLIERS

said, that this clause was unnecessary, because parishes did not exercise the power which they now possessed of expending an amount equal to one-half the poor rate upon emigration; and it might operate mischievously by leading persons who desired to emigrate to think that they could attain their object by throwing themselves upon the rates. The means now at the disposal of the guardians for this purpose amounted in Ashton to £21,000; Preston, £22,000; Oldham, £22,000; Rochdale, £11,000. He hoped that the hon. Gentleman would not press this clause.

MR. FERRAND

understood the President of the Poor Law Board to state the other morning that the £200,000 which was to be borrowed under this Bill might, if the guardians pleased, be applied to the promotion of emigration. What harm, therefore, could this clause do?

MR. C. P. VILLIERS

said, that what he stated was that the money raised under this Bill might be applied to emigration, in the same proportion as the funds now at the disposal of the guardians.

Motion made, and Question, "That the said Clause be now read a second time," put, and negatived.

Bill to be read 3° To-morrow.

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