§ Order for Consideration, as amended, read.
§ Bill, as amended, considered.
§ MR. W. H. SMITHsaid, he did not wish to delay the Bill; but it would be interesting to the House to know, on a question of this importance to the Metropolis, whether the Metropolitan Asylums Board were desirous of undertaking the duty which it was proposed they should undertake under the Bill. There was no compulsion upon them to do so; but, of course, the duty was an important one. It was to be hoped that they would readily cooperate with the other local authorities in taking what measures were necessary under the Bill, and, in other directions, for the stay of the disease, if we should be, unhappily, visited with cholera.
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKEsaid, he was to have an interview on Thursday morning with the representatives—in fact, the Committee—of the Metropolitan Asylums Board, and at that meeting, no doubt, they would be able to agree on a scheme; or, at all events, lay the foundation for a scheme, by which the local authorities—the Vestries and District Boards of the Metropolis—could take measures to prevent the spread of cholera if it should come. Up to the present time, the Government had only 1959 had an unofficial communication with the Asylums Board. Some Members of the Board had seen a draft copy of the Bill, and had interested themselves in the matter; but, as yet, no official communication had passed between them and the Government in regard to it.
Bill read the third time, and passed.