§ MR. ARTHUR O'CONNOR (Donegal, E.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether the Local Government Board will consider the advisability of taking measures to secure the supply of drugs of good quality to the dispensaries connected with the Poor Law Administration in Ireland?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. JOHN MORLEY) (Newcastle-on-Tyne)Of, course, Sir, the Local Government Board consider it a matter of much importance that Boards of Guardians should procure medicines of good quality; and by means of Reports from their Inspectors and the medical officers, and by bringing the subject under the Guardians' notice when necessary, they endeavour to secure that the supplies are good and sufficient. Beyond this, however, they have no control, as it rests with the Guardians to enter into the necessary contracts. I am informed that in 1870 an effort was made to establish a central depôt for these supplies; but obstacles were found to exist in carrying out the arrangement, and the next year the order on the subject was rescinded.