§ MR. MOOREasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether he can state how far the recommendations of the Local Government Board, as stated in their Letter of the 18th November, 1882, addressed to the Irish Government, have been carried out as to the limiting of each party of emigrants to a number not exceeding fifteen families in each ship, and as to the emigration of whole families at a time, and the appointment of suitable agents, male and female, at the ports of embarkation and reception; and, if he will cause weekly Returns to be prepared, showing the rate at which the people are being assisted to emigrate, and the districts from which they come?
§ MR. TREVELYANSir, the hon. Member quotes from a letter written in the earlier stages of the proceedings. Later experience showed that it was neither practicable nor necessary to limit each party of emigrants, as proposed, to 15 families. Shipping Companies sent their vessels out of the ordinary route to enable emigrants to embark conveniently, and it could not be expected that they would do this for the conveyance of small parties. The contemplated necessity for the limitation of numbers has been obviated, in consequence of the arrangements made that no persons should be allowed to go to the United States except those who could show that they had there friends in a position to assist them. The other proposed arrangements—namely, as to emigration by families and the appointment of agents—have been carried out. I am informed that it would be very inconvenient to have weekly Returns prepared as suggested, as the time of all persons engaged in the emigration work is fully occupied, and they find it difficult to keep pace with the duties already devolving on them. I have, however, numerical Returns prepared, which will show the state of the case up to the present time.