MR. STANLEYsaid, the right hon. Gentleman the President of the Poor Law Board, and the House, were aware that large sums of money and a free passage had been offered by Queensland and the Australian Colonies generally with a view to promote the emigration of the Cotton Operatives. He was told application had been made for a portion of the Mansion House Fund for the purpose of assisting such emigration, but for certain reasons the request was refused. He therefore wished to ask the President of the Poor Law Board, If Boards of Guardians or Parish Vestries have not the power to raise money for the purposes of assisting the Emigration of Paupers and their Families to British Colonies; and, if so, under what restrictions and regulations?
MR. C. P. VILLIEES, in reply, said, he knew nothing of the statement made by his hon. Friend with regard to the application of the funds under the control of the Lord Mayor. With regard to his question as to the powers possessed by parishes and guardians for aiding the emigration of the poor, he could inform him that this power was possessed by both those authorities. They derived their power, however, from different Acts of Parliament. The parishes, by means of their vestry, were entitled under the 4 & 5 Will. IV., commonly called the New Poor Law, to raise money for emigration either by special rate or by loan, but they were limited as to the amount raised, and also as to the time of repayment. They could only raise one half the average amount expended yearly on an average of three years, and were obliged to repay the money in five years, and they could only apply the money under the authority of the Poor Law Commission. With respect to the Guardians of Unions, they had power to defray the cost of the emigration of those paupers who were termed irremovable, and were only limited as to the amount. What they raised might be charged on the common fund, but they could not pay more than £10 for each person without the sanction of the particular Guardian belonging to the parish where the pauper is settled. In no case could they proceed to the application of the money without the control of the Poor Law Board, and without being subject to the orders and regulations which had been issued by the Commissioners. Those orders and rules might be found in the Annual Report which was made to the House by the Poor Law Board. They had been carefully drawn with a view to the safety and protection from wrong of the pauper.