§ (The Marquess of Hartington, Mr. Attorney General for Ireland.)
§ Order for Committee read.
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTON, in moving that Mr. Speaker do now leave the Chair, said, that its object was simply to apply to Ireland, so far as was practicable, the policy of the Act which was passed last year placing the administration of the Poor Law, of the Local Government Acts, and of the Sanitary Acts, under the Local Government Board. This Bill was in the same form as the Act of last year, so far as that was applicable to Ireland. It was not necessary to enter into further explanation beyond stating that it was erroneous to suppose that this was an attempt to amend the Local Government Acts. The principal object was to constitute a Department in which the public would have confidence, and which should superintend the administration of those Acts which, 1588 to a great extent, remained inoperative, and the first duty of the Sanitary Department would be to inquire in what respects reform was required. The noble Marquess concluded by moving that the House go into Committee on the Bill.
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That Mr. Speaker do now leave the Chair."—(The Marquess of Hartington.)
§ Motion agreed to.
§ Bill considered in Committee.
§ (In the Committee.)
§ Preamble postponed.
§ Clauses 1 and 2 agreed to.
§ Clause 3 (Constitution of Local Government Board).
§ MR. PIMexpressed his opinion that the head of the Local Government Board of Ireland should have a seat in the House of Commons.
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONsaid, he had no doubt that if at a subsequent period it should be found that there was sufficient important work to be transacted by the Board, Parliament would be willing to give to the Board whatever Parliamentary representation it might think necessary. At present, however, he did not think the administration of the Poor Laws, or the Sanitary or Local Government Acts, had produced an amount of Parliamentary occupation which would justify the appointment of another Parliamentary officer. The Chief Secretary was proposed as a President of the Board, in order to make his responsibility to the House complete.
§ MR. DELAHUNTYprotested against a system of sanitary legislation being promoted for Ireland separate from the rest of the United Kingdom. He was of opinion that on this subject Ireland ought to have been included with England in one Bill, and hoped next year that instead of two Bills upon the subject there would be only one.
§ Clause agreed to.
§ Remaining clauses agreed to.
§ Bill reported; as amended, to be considered To-morrow.