HC Deb 21 June 1880 vol 253 cc441-2
MR. A. M. SULLIVAN

I wish to ask the right hon. Gentleman, Whether the Government have received in London any confirmation of the serious news from Ireland which I see reported in The Evening Standard in reference to the outbreak of famine fever in Ireland? It is contained in a report from the hon. secretary of the Charleston, county Mayo, Relief Committee, and he says— The famine fever (and a most dangerous typo) is now very prevalent, and making such progress that I fear there will not he ere long a village in all the parish free from it. Of course the destitute were the first to be visited by this awful disease; but, like death itself, it respects no persons, and very shortly makes its unwelcome visit to the well-to-do and independent. I have seen three pass by me this week to the workhouse from the little village in which I reside. Only the week before I saw the widow borne to the grave from her orphans, and only the wall separates mo from the room where the wife of a respected member of our committee lies dangerously ill. I should like to ask the right hon. Gentleman, Whether, having the experience of 1847 before him, he has any information on this sad subject?

MR. W. E. FORSTER

Sir, I am glad that my hon. and learned Friend has asked the Question. On seeing in The Daily News this morning the account which my hon. and learned Friend has read from The Evening Standard, I immediately telegraphed to the Local Government Board directing them to take immediate steps, and to send a medical inspector. I have no information so recent as that which has been referred to by the hon. and learned Member; but I have received a communication from the Mansion House Committee this morning on a different subject, but which contained no allusion to the fever. I am quite clear that there must be some fact behind it, though I hope it will turn out that it has been somewhat exaggerated. Without casting any reproach on anybody in reference to this statement, it is, I think, but natural that it should have been exaggerated. A few days ago I heard of fever in this district, and I have reason to believe that it was originated in the workhouse; but I cannot give the House positive facts with regard to it. My hon. and learned Friend is quite right in assuming that when I hear of fever in a distressed district I regard it as a subject of considerable alarm; but it is not proved to me that this is famine fever. I am sorry to say that, a few days ago, I found it necessary to dissolve the Board of Guardians of a Union, they being unable to contend with the distress. The Local Government Board have since appointed fresh Guardians, and I have both telegraphed and written that every attention should be paid, and that if it is a matter of money to save the life the money must be expended.

MR. O'CONNOR POWER

I would like to ask the right hon. Gentleman, Whether he would send instructions to the Inspector who will be sent down by the Local Government Board to extend his inquiries to the Union of Swineford, because in that Union it is reported that cases of fever have arisen from insufficiency of food? I wish also to state, with the indulgence of the House, that in a parish near Castlebar, deaths have occurred within the last week or 10 days from the same cause.

MR. W. E. FORSTER

The Inspector will be directed to inquire into all those districts, especially that of Swineford, and one or two neighbouring districts.

MR. PARNELL

gave Notice that, in consequence of the failure of the Swineford Board of Guardians to perform the duties imposed on it, and the present emergency in Ireland, and the probable failure of other Boards of Guardians in similar circumstances, he should tomorrow ask for leave to bring in a Bill allocating £100,000 from the Irish Church Surplus Fund for the immediate relief of the distress in Ireland, and constituting a body for the administration of that Fund.