§ MR. GRAHAM (St. Pancras, W.)I beg to ask the Postmaster General whether his attention has been called to the death of Mr. A. C. Pemborton, a First Class Clerk in the Money Order Office, who after a fews days' illness from pleurisy and pneumonia, attributed to the insanitary state of the old Coldbath Fields 1551 Prison, in which the Money Order Office is located; is he aware that the old prison chapel is, according to The British Medical Journal, necessarily either stuffy or draughty, and that to such causes Mr. Pemberton's death is primarily, if not finally, attributed; and whether he will consider the advisability of transferring the Money Order Office from Coldbath Fields Prison to the new buildings which are shortly to be occupied in Aldersgate Street?
MR. W.M'LAREN (Cheshire, Crewe)I beg, at the same time, to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether his attention has been called to the death of Mr. A. C. Pemberton, a First Class Clerk in the Money Order Office, who died, after a few days' illness, from pleurisy and pneumonia, attributed to the insanitary state of the old Coldbath Fields Prison, in which the Money Order Office is located; is he aware that the old prison chapel is, according to The British Medical Journal, necessarily either stuffy or draughty, and that to such causes Mr. Pemberton's death is primarily, if not finally, attributed; and whether he will appoint a small Medical Commission to inspect the old Coldbath Fields Prison, and to report as to whether it is fit for a public office?
§ THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. A. MORLEY,) Nottingham, E.I have had careful inquiry made into the circumstances connected with the unfortunate death of Mr. A. C. Pemberton; and I can have no doubt that the chill, to which he ultimately succumbed, was contracted during his absence on a holiday in the Isle of Wight. Much, therefore, as I regret the untimely loss of this officer, I cannot think that it can be attributed to the building in which his official duties were discharged. At the same time, however, I am aware that complaints have frequently been made of what the hon. Member calls the stuffy or draughty state of that building, and I have both personally, and through my advisers, inspected its condition. I feel, however, that having regard to all the circumstances, it would be more satisfactory that its sanitary state should be investigated by some extra Departmental authority; and after consultation with my right hon. Friend the First Commissioner of Works I propose accordingly to appoint a small Commission to inquire into and report to me upon it. I 1552 am happy to be able to state that Lord Playfair has been good enough to consent to give me the advantage of his knowledge and experience on this subject, and I propose to associate him with some gentleman who is a known and recognised authority on sanitary matters.