§ MR. DALYI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the attention of the Local Government Board has been drawn to the strong protests of the medical officers of the Longford Union against the practice of having the sick poor conveyed to the workhouse hospital in the antiquated van at present in use: and whether, as within the last few months verdicts have been returned by two coroners' juries in two inquests that the deaths were directly attributable to the patients having been forced into this van, and the Board of Guardians have persistently refused to provide a suitable van, the Local Government Board intend to take any action in the matter?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThe attention of the Local Government Board has been drawn to the unsuitability of the ambulances referred to, and they have frequently urged the Guardians to provide suitable conveyances. In the case of two recent inquests, the coroner's jury found that death was accelerated by removal to the Workhouse Infirmary in the existing ambulances. The Guardians, on the 15th inst., authorised the Medical Officers to employ a carriage or other suitable conveyance when they considered it advisable, and with a view to determine if this order will meet with the necessities of the case, the Local 1410 Government Board have instructed their Inspector to ascertain whether suitable vehicles are available for this purpose.