§ DR. TANNERI beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been called to the large number of emigrants now leaving Ireland for America; whether it is true that 800 emigrants embarked at Queens-town on the 22nd instant on the Cunard steamship Pavonia for Boston; and whether steps have been, and are being, taken to insure efficient sanitary, hospital, and water provision, and medical inspection after leaving port, for such steerage passengers by the Board of Trade?
§ * THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Sir M. HICKS BEACH, Bristol, W.)I am informed that a large number of emigrants are leaving Ireland for America, and that about 800 embarked at Queenstown on the 22nd on the Cunard steamship Pavonia for Boston. The emigration officer reports that the sanitary and hospital arrangements on board were satisfactory, that the water and provisions were sufficient, and that the passengers were medically inspected by the sanitary surveyor before the ship left port. There was a surgeon on board whose duty it would, of course, be to attend to the medical supervision of the passengers after leaving port.
§ DR. TANNERI would ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the Pavonia is fitted with permanent steerage accommodation or not; whether the sanitary arrangements for the large number of emigrants carried in the ship are of a permanent character, and have been passed by the Medical Officers of the Board of Trade?
§ * SIR M. HICKS BEACHI have stated that they have been passed. I cannot say how far the arrangements are of a permanent character.
§ DR. TANNERI will raise this question in Committee on the Estimates.