§ MR. MAURICE HEALY (Cork)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether his attention has been called to the complaints made as to the large number of stowaways from Liverpool landed at Queenstown every week from the American liners; whether it is the fact that the number of persons of this character so landed is sometimes so many as five per week, all of whom, 1632 being quite destitute, become a charge on the rates of the Cork Poor Law Union; and, whether any means exist whereby the Atlantic Steamship Companies can be prevented from landing stowaways at Queenstown, or compelled to ship them back to Liverpool; and, if not, whether, having regard to the fact that the English Poor Law system protects the local rates in converse cases, the Government propose to take any steps to relieve the ratepayers of the Cork Union from the burden cast upon them by the system referred to?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. JOHN MORLEY) (Newcastle-on-Tyne)The attention of the Local Government Board has been drawn to this matter by a resolution of the Cork Board of Guardians; but they have no precise information as to the number of cases occurring. It is the fact that the stowaways, if destitute, may become a charge on the rates of Cork Union, and there are no means by which the Steamship Companies can be compelled either to desist from landing them at Queenstown, or to ship them back to Liverpool. The present law regarding the deportation of paupers undoubtedly bears hardly upon Ireland; but I fear this is not a good opportunity for promising legislation on the subject.