§ MR. MAURICE HEALY (Cork)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether his attention has been called to the Resolution passed on the 7th instant by the Cork Board of Guardians with reference to the case of William Robinson; whether it is the fact that this man, aged 58, was removed from the Croydon Union to Cork, his place of birth, notwithstanding that he had gone to reside in England when three years old; whether the Guardians are correct in the complaint they make, that, while English Unions possess the power of deporting paupers who have not obtained a settlement to their place of 1545 birth, no corresponding power is possessed by Irish Unions; whether he is aware that the ratepayers of the Cork Union suffer in an especial manner from this state of things, owing to the fact that many strangers, stowaways, and others are landed from vessels touching at Queenstown; and, whether he proposes to amend the Law, so as to put English and Irish Unions on an equality in the matter in question?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR) (Manchester, E.)The reply to the inquiries in the first three paragraphs is in the affirmative. Complaints have been made by the Board of Guardians of Cork Union to the effect indicated in the fourth paragraph. The consideration of legislation on the subject is, in the present state of Public Business, quite impracticable.
§ MR. MAURICE HEALYasked, did not the right hon. Gentleman think the matter deserved consideration?
§ MR. A. J. BALFOURadmitted that it did deserve consideration; but he could make no promise of legislation on the subject.