HC Deb 24 May 1895 vol 34 cc246-7
MR. W. JOHNSTON (Belfast, S.)

said, he desired to ask the Chief Secretary for Ireland what course was to be taken with regard to this Bill, which had been on the paper since March last, the Debate on the Second Reading having been adjourned on the 29th of that month. If anything was to be done to assist the giving of relief, it ought to be done before the summer was over.

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL (Donegal, S.)

I beg to ask whether the Outdoor Relief Bill has been blocked day after day and night after night by the hon. Gentleman's friends?

MR. J. MORLEY

I am well aware that this Bill, which is a Bill drawn on exactly the same lines as Bills with the same object formerly brought forward by the right hon. Member for East Manchester and the noble Lord the Member for the Paddington Division, has been night after night since March resisted by hon. Gentlemen opposite.

MR. W. JOHNSTON

I did not understand the hon. Member for Donegal to say that I had blocked it, and I am extremely anxious, if the Bill is to be of use, that the Government shall put it down for a favourable opportunity.

MR. JOHN MORLEY

I must exonerate the hon. Member from the charge of having blocked the Bill.

MR. G. C. T. BARTLEY (Islington, N.)

I beg to ask whether this Bill does not give facilities to Irishmen which have been denied to Englishmen?

MR. J. MORLEY

It is not my business to know, but I do know that this is a duplicate of proposals which have been accepted by the Legislature before when they have been proposed.

MR. W. E. MACARTNEY (Antrim, S.)

Has this Bill ever been moved except once by anybody representing the Irish Government?

MR. J. MORLEY

Certainly, Sir. I must myself have moved the forwarding of this Bill not less than 20 times.

MR. JOHN DILLON (Mayo, E.)

May I ask whether it is not the fact that the powers which would be conferred by this Bill have been and are being exercised by the executive Government in Ireland for the first six months?

MR. J. MORLEY

It is not quite correct to say that these powers are being exercised except indirectly, but there is a clause in the Bill which gives an indemnity to Boards of Guardians who use these powers, and therefore the Bill is in effect in operation.

MR. ROSS

Having regard to the opposition raised to the Bill on this side of the House by reason of the 3rd clause, which puts these persons in a different position from other persons who receive relief, would the right hon. Gentleman, in order to remove that opposition, consider the advisability of giving way on this point?

MR. J. MORLEY

This is a very argumentative question, which I think I must decline to answer. I certainly decline, as at present advised, to make the change which the hon. Member suggests.