§ LORD CLAUD HAMILTONsaid, he had a Question of considerable importance to bring under the notice of the House, and that he might put himself in order he would conclude with a Motion for adjournment. The subject to which he wished to call attention was one of great magnitude. A very extraordinary proceeding on the part of those who administered the poor relief of the country had been resorted to, in passing the second reading of a Bill yesterday in so hurried a manner that the Bill had not first been printed, and consequently no copy of the Bill was at the time in the hands of hon. Members. The effect of the Bill was to subvert the whole system upon which the administration of the relief of the poor was founded—namely, a combination of the principles of taxation and representation. He had not had time to give notice to the right hon. Gentleman the President of the Poor Law Board of his intention to bring forward the subject; but the right hon. 1797 Gentleman could scarcely complain, as he himself had given no notice to the House of the nature of his Bill. The object of the Bill was to provide for the relief of the casual poor of the metropolis, and it enabled certain persons who had not heretofore been connected with the administration of the Poor Law system to pay money to any amount and throw the whole burden upon the property within the metropolitan district. Never had such an attempt been made to smuggle through an important measure, involving a totally new principle, in so objectionable a manner. The Bill was not printed in time to be distributed to hon. Members yesterday morning, although it was down for a second reading yesterday afternoon: he went to his Club, and the Bill was not to be found there; and on inquiring at his own house, at six o'clock, he found that a copy of the Bill was not delivered there until three or four o'clock in the afternoon. Yet the Bill, which he might say had been smuggled through the second reading, contained a provision that the Metropolitan Board of Works should be able to give any sum of money the guardians of unions might be pleased to ask for, without having the slightest knowledge whether it was honestly, properly, or judiciously administered. The Metropolitan Board of Works was understood to be established for the better management of the metropolis in reference to sewerage, paving, draining, lighting, and cleansing; and he saw no reason why they should be introduced into the administration of the poor relief, and the proceeding that had been taken was contrary to all Parliamentary usage. He wished to ask the right hon. Gentleman the President of the Poor Law Board, if he intended to go on with the Bill during the present Session, and in order to afford him an opportunity of explaining his views he would move the adjournment of the House.
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That this House do now adjourn."
§ MR. SPEAKERsaid, it was perfectly competent for an hon. Member to invite the attention of the House to anything which he thought irregular in its course of proceeding; but it would not be regular on a Motion for the adjournment of the House to enter into a discussion of the merits of the Bill which stood for consideration to-morrow.