§ MR. PINKERTON(for Mr. MCCARTAN,) Down, S.I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland with reference to the Report of Colonel Spaight on the state of the Larne Workhouse, whether he is aware that nothing has yet been done to provide proper assistance for the infirmary nurse; and whether, considering that there is an average number of seventy inmates in the infirmary there, he will advise the appointment of a paid assistant instead of depending on pauper assistants, who leave so often that they cannot be relied on?
§ MR. JACKSONThe objections of the Local Government Inspector referred to do not appear to have been against the employment of inmates of this Union in assisting the infirmary nurse; but against these assistants 1289 being taken away from work in the laundry except when they could be conveniently spared. In the week ended the 7th inst., there were fifty-seven patients in the infirmary. It is the usual practice in workhouses in Ireland that the inmates that are capable of doing so should afford assistance to the paid nurses, and there does not appear to be anything in the circumstances of the Larne Workhouse which would render it necessary for the Local Government Board to interfere with the discretion of the Guardians in this matter.