[BILL 167.] SECOND READING. (Hansard, 9 June 1880)

§ MR. MELDON,
in moving that the Bill be now read a second time, said, this was also a Bill dealing with details to a great extent; but he could not say it was altogether a matter of detail, for there were certain principles in the Bill that could be well discussed in Committee, and he would, therefore, confine himself to one or two things. It had been found in the Medical Department of the Poor Law of Ireland that the appointment of persons called wardens in the working of relief was unsatisfactory, and he proposed that that system of wardens should be abolished. In Ireland there was a great deal of difficulty about the giving of medical relief tickets to those who were not entitled to them, as they were able to pay for medical assistance. He proposed to deal with that in two ways. First, to check the system of granting tickets to those who ought not to receive them, and to prevent tickets being given on the loan system. Those matters had been the subject of great consideration in Ireland; and if the House would afford him the second reading, he would be prepared to refer 1560 the Bill to a Select Committee for consideration.

§ MR. MITCHELL HENRY
hoped the Government would not allow the Bill to be read a second time. He should most certainly vote against it, for the reason that it would be exceedingly injurious to many poor districts. He also protested against the Bill being brought forward in this way, having an important subject springing up on them as it were in surprise. It seemed to be a measure to relieve medical officers from the duties thrown upon them, and greatly to increase the cost to the ratepayers. If referred to a Select Committee it would do harm, as it would then be held that the principle of the Bill had been conceded, and that he could not agree to.

§ MR. CORRY
also opposed the Bill.

MR. MACARTNEY
said, there were provisions in the Bill that would make it a very serious thing for Ireland, and he considered that in the present short Session of Parliament it would be impossible to appoint a Select Committee that could do justice to the facts brought before them, and that there would not be time afterwards for consideration by the House. For that reason, he should move that the Bill be read a second time that day throe months.

§ MR. MELDON
said, he would be the last person to take the House by surprise. The Bill had been before the House last Session, and not a single Member had put down a Notice against it, nor was any objection made to it. Under the circumstances, however, he would not press it, and would, therefore, move that the debate be adjourned.

§ MR. GIBSON
remarked, that it was quite obvious that the Bill would affect Ireland from one end to the other, as it related to the issue of relief tickets. It was a very great abuse that men should get tickets who were well able to pay for medical advice, and it was a very objectionable thing that medical men should get what were called in Ireland "scarlet 1561 runners" in the case of such persons. The Bill dealt with this great grievance in a very trenchant way, and said that no one who was a Parliamentary voter should be entitled to obtain medical Poor Law relief. That was a very important principle; but the question was one which ought not to be rushed through the House.