HC Deb 11 August 1875 vol 226 cc868-9
MR. W. H. SMITH

moved that the House, at its rising, do adjourn till Friday at 12 o'clock, observing that there was no Business of any kind on the Paper for Thursday.

MR. O'LEARY

called attention to the lamentable failure of the Irish Public Health Act, which passed last Session, though he admitted that that Act was conceived in a very excellent spirit. He had to complain that the Act had not been adequately carried out in Ireland by the local sanitary authorities; that there were at least 500,000 persons in Ireland living in miserable hovels; that the ventilation and water supply were bad; and the medical sanitary officers performed their duties negligently. The medical officers excused themselves on the ground that they were not sufficiently remunerated by the local authorities, and unless something was done before the House re-assembled to satisfy their demands, there was a probability that these gentlemen would sign a round robin, and refuse to perform the duties which the Act imposed upon them. In that event, he need hardly say, the most deplorable consequences must ensue.

THE SOLICITOR GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. PLUNKET)

said, that if the Irish Poor Law medical officers were not properly remunerated, it was the fault, not of the Local Government Board, but of the local authorities. The matter, however, would not be lost sight of. Speaking generally, so far as the Government had been able to form an opinion of the working of the Act, which had been in operation only two months, it was working exceedingly well, and was doing a vast amount of good. It was too soon to form any definite opinion upon the subject.

MR. M'LAREN

complained that Scotland, whilst contributing in taxation towards the payment of Sanitary Inspectors for England and Ireland, received nothing from the National Funds for the payment of Sanitary Inspectors in Scotland.

MR. WARD

said, the remuneration allowed by the Guardians to be paid to medical men was totally inadequate for the duties they performed, and would prevent the Act from being effectually carried out,

MR.REUSSELL GURNEY

rose to Order, and inquired whether the hon. Member was entitled to speak on a question which was not technically before the House?

MR. SPEAKER

This discussion is, no doubt, most unusual. The House has disposed of all the Orders of the Day, and of the various Motions of which Notice has been given; and a Motion having been made that the House on rising do adjourn until Friday, the hon. Member for Drogheda has raised this discussion. I cannot say that it is not open to the hon. Member to bring forward a grievance on such an occasion; but the course which has been adopted would, if usually followed, be productive of the greatest inconvenience.