COMMITTEE. (Hansard, 16 March 1893)

§ COLONEL NOLAN (Galway, N.)
said that under the Bill as drafted they could not put up a cholera hospital in the district until cholera was actually in the district. Surely the time to put up the hospital was before the cholera came, and he therefore hoped the Government would accept an Amendment he drafted to Clause 1 to remedy that defect.

THE CHAIRMAN
Order, order! The hon. and gallant Gentleman is too late. The Question has been put and carried.

§ COLONEL NOLAN
With great respect, Sir Julian Goldsmid, it has not. I got up when you put the Question "That Clause 1 stand part of the Bill." I intend to speak, and I am not going to cut short my remarks.

THE CHAIRMAN
The Question "That Clause 1 stand part of the Bill" was put a week ago, and carried. No Amendment was then moved, and we cannot go back upon it now.

§ COLONEL NOLAN
My recollection entirely differs from that. I have a clear and distinct recollection of what occurred on the last occasion, and I say that I got up sharp when the clause was put. If I cannot move my Amendment now I will ask the Government to consider it on Report, and give me a promise to have it inserted in the Bill in another place. My proposal is the most reasonable thing in the world, and is one that ought to be adopted.

MR. J. MORLEY
In reply to my hon. and gallant Friend, I would point out that the Bill now before the Committee is exactly the same as the Acts of 1883 and 1885; and although I will certainly undertake to consider my hon. and gallant Friend's Amendments on Report, I do not hold out any confident hopes that I shall be able to accept them.

§ COLONEL NOLAN
said, it was he who drew the Bills and got them passed in 1883 and 1885. Since then he had been in correspondence with the Local Government Board in Ireland, and had had considerable experience in the matter. It would be only a rough shed, and would cost about £30 or £40. There was no cholera in 1883 and 1885, but only a rumour. He would ask the Chief Secretary to take some pains about this matter. He was not going to a Division; all he wanted was to be allowed to alter some of the words of the clause; and as he had been stopped that night by the Forms of the House, he thought he should be able to raise the question on Report. He wondered at the reception he had met with, and that the Chief Secretary could not communicate with the Local Government Board, or somebody responsible in Ireland. If the Local Government Board did not think the proposal necessary, then the head of the Board ought to be asked for his resignation if somebody died. [Mr. J. MORLEY dissented.] He did not mean the political head of the Board, but the gentleman's name ought to be given in the House, so that if cholera did come it would be known. He wanted a promise that the matter would be considered, and he asked for an opportunity on Report.

MR. J. MORLEY
As to the head of the Local Government Board, I am not the head. I assure my hon. and gallant Friend that, after the fullest consideration, those who are most responsible are of opinion that his Amendment is not an amendment.

§ COLONEL NOLAN
said, the Local Government Board in Ireland issued instructions, and there was responsibility upon the Sanitary Authorities. He had taken great trouble, and had found every difficulty in the way of getting sites. He had had experience not of the cholera, but in the way of making preparations. However, he had now discharged his 337 responsibility. He did not want to put the Committee to the trouble of a Division; and as he thought he had brought the subject sufficiently forward, he did not propose to take any further steps.

§ COLONEL NOLAN
said, all demesne land in Ireland was enclosed, and it was not at all easy to obtain a site.

MR. J. MORLEY
I am told that there is an abundance of land in every case for a site for a cholera hospital, if wanted.

§ COLONEL NOLAN
said, the last time this Bill was in the House of Lords their Lordships were indignant that it had been sent up to them so often. They said it was a useless Bill, and that it should be made a perpetual Act, and not be sent up to them year after year. They might have cholera at any time when this Bill had lapsed, and he was very anxious about it.

MR. J. MORLEY
I quite share my hon. and gallant Friend's desire. This is a Bill which confers considerable powers upon the Local Government Board, and I think there are great objections to conferring those powers in perpetuity. They are powers which ought only to be conferred in the case of a crisis. Therefore, I must agree to the proposal that this Bill should only last for a year, and that it should not apply except in case of emergency.